Trauma

Learning Objectives

• Impact of trauma on overall health

• Epidemiological and etiological risk factors for trauma

• Clinical presentation of trauma

• Role of nurses in trauma care

• Apply nursing process in trauma care

Types of Trauma

• Adverse events: Natural disasters, human-caused disasters, poverty, oppression

• Trauma-related disorders: Acute, chronic, complex, vicarious, historical

Effects of Trauma

• Intense fear, confusion, dissociation, emotional disruption

Neuroscience of Trauma

• Polyvagal Theory: Sympathetic (fight/flight) and parasympathetic (faint/freeze/fawn) responses

• Role of the amygdala in fear detection and memory consolidation

Developmental Impact on Children

• Importance of secure attachments and protective relationships

• Lack of protective factors increases risk for chronic health issues and trauma-related disorders

Historical Trauma

• Impact on vulnerable populations; unresolved trauma increases risk

Trauma-Related Disorders

• DSM-5-TR Disorders: PTSD, acute stress disorder, adjustment disorders, reactive attachment disorder (RAD), disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED)

Nursing Process in Trauma Care

• Assessment: Identify cues and history of trauma

• Planning: Client-centered care, safety, and collaboration

• Implementation: Coping strategies, medication treatments

• Evaluation: Monitor client response and adjust care plan

Trauma-Informed Care Principles

• Safety, trustworthiness, peer support, empowerment, cultural considerations

Interventions and Therapies

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), pharmacotherapy