Our
Research
Projects
​
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Trauma-Informed Care Among Pediatric Critical Care Nurses
Lisa DeVries, MSN, RN, PNP-AC & Amy Newman, PhD, RN, PNP-PC
​Research Project:
​
Background: Nurses in pediatric critical care (PCC) are caring for patients and families who are experiencing not only physical trauma related to their life-threatening diagnosis, but psychological trauma as well. Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a framework grounded in Trauma Theory that acknowledges the impact of trauma upon all individuals and provides strategies to promote resilience and prevent re-traumatization.
Literature Review: Current literature suggests nurses within PCC have a vague understanding of TIC and little pragmatic knowledge of application of a trauma-informed practice.
​
Purpose: This mixed-method survey intended to investigate the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices of TIC among PCC nurses.
​
Sample/Setting: Current practicing PCC nurses were recruited nation-wide through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses online research platform as well as through email.
​
Methodology: Quantitative data was collected from 148 nurses using the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Trauma Informed Care Survey, developed by King et al., 2019. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA were conducted using the IBM SPSS Statistics software. Qualitative analysis of open-ended narrations completed as well.
​
Results: Results indicated a high level of knowledge (M= 4.475) related to trauma, as well as high scores for attitude related to TIC (M=3.89). Additionally, the item that specifically assessed desire to receive more training, scores were rated very high (M=4.26). Practice related to TIC scores were assessed as the lowest out of the subscales (M=3.84), indicating lower pragmatic application of TIC principles among PCC nurses. Qualitative findings from open-ended narratives revealed themes regarding “little experience with the concept of TIC” and how training would be beneficial for patients and families as well as for nurses.
​
Implications: This research suggests that the development of a specific educational curriculum related to TIC for PCC nurses would be beneficial for guiding PCC nurses in implementing trauma-informed principles into their nursing practice.
Be Trauma Informed: A Podcast Series for Pediatric Critical Care Nurses
Lisa DeVries, MSN, RN, PNP-AC & Amy Newman, PhD, RN, PNP-PC
Research Project: ​
​
Statement of the Problem:
The pediatric critical care (PCC) environment is traumatic by nature, with consequences of psychologic traumatic stress disorders for patients and parents exposed to the environment. Interventions are required to mitigate the negative psychological effects that trauma has upon patients and parents in PCC. Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a framework and philosophy that has had positive client outcomes in mental health and social services sectors but has yet to be universally applied within PCC. As nurses spend a significant amount of time in the direct care of critically ill pediatric patients and families, educating nurses on TIC and its principles can provide a foundation of understanding for reducing the impact of trauma within PCC. To date, no published studies have aimed to educate PCC nurses on trauma, TIC, and its implementation in the PCC environment.
Specific Aims:
The primary aim of this study is to develop and pilot a novel educational intervention in the form of a podcast series to increase the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of TIC among PCC nurses. The study also aims to determine the feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, safety, and preliminary effectiveness of the podcast series from the perspective of nurses working in PCC.
​
Design:
Mixed method, pilot intervention study. The quantitative portion will use a quasi-experimental single group, pretest-posttest design. The qualitative portion will assess for practice change as described in written narratives and perform a comprehensive evaluation of the educational intervention.
​
Recruitment:
Currently recruiting practicing pediatric critical care nurses (including advanced practice nurses) in the United States. Please click HERE if interested in learning more about participating.