International journal of emergency mental health
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Int J Emerg Ment Health · Jan 2004
Assessment of PTSD symptoms in emergency room, intensive care unit, and general floor nurses.
A total of 125 registered nurses participated in an investigation of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related symptoms and various levels of nursing care. The sample included 43 emergency room nurses (ER), 51 intensive care unit nurses (ICU), and 31 general floor nurses (GF). All participants were assessed on measures of PTSD, social support, dissociation, anxiety, depression, and demographics. ⋯ It was inferred that social support played a significant role in helping nurses cope with work-related stress. Nevertheless, the high anxiety levels of all nurses were highlighted as a concern. It was suggested that exposure to numerous traumatic experiences over a lifetime of nursing, and a lack of control over these experiences, contributed to the high anxiety levels seen in all nursing groups.