Nurses’ Psychological Trauma and Cognitive Control in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have faced various nurse-specific traumas in their workplaces, but there is limited understanding of the resulting outcomes and factors that contribute to them. Objective To address this gap, the study employed the middle-range theory of nurses’ psychological trauma (NPT) to examine these relationships among frontline nurses working in critical care areas. Methods In a quantitative cross-sectional study, the study compared nurses identified as probable cases of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with those identified as not probable cases. The study investigated the nurse-specific traumas they experienced, their individual personality traits, and the buffers they possessed. The study also sought to identify specific types of nurse-specific traumas that could be associated with negative outcomes, such as alcohol and drug use. Results It was found that PTSD-probable nurses reported higher levels of trauma from disasters and system/medically induced trauma compared to not-probable nurses. They also experienced more nonwork-related humankind traumas and displayed lower resilience. Furthermore, PTSD-probable nurses identified with trait urgency and trait avoidance motivation. Additionally, trauma from disasters was associated with alcohol use. Conclusion The study highlights the elevated levels of trauma, lower resilience, and specific psychological traits associated with PTSD-probable nurses, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and support to mitigate the negative outcomes experienced by frontline nurses.