Traumatic stress among frontline American nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey study.

Abstract

Nurses working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic are at inherent risk of traumatic stress working in understaffed, poorly equipped, high acuity environments. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may develop following exposure to trauma or stress associated with depressive symptoms, flashbacks, and mood disturbance. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of traumatic stress among American frontline nurses following the initial COVID-19 surge in the United States during March 2020 using the Trauma Screening Questionnaire. This cross-sectional survey study was distributed via social media in May 2021 following the initial COVID-19 surge. The (TSQ) was selected for its strong psychometric performance in previous studies and high clinical reliability in detecting those at risk for PTSD. Results: Out of the 298 acute care nurses practicing in the United States who participated in the survey, 58.7% had a positive score of greater than 6 indicating the risk of PTSD. Front line nurses who provided care during the initial COVID-19 surge reported high levels of traumatic stress and demonstrated the risk of developing PTSD as measured by the TSQ. Health systems that employ frontline nurses must increase screening for mental health ramifications during the global pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)