As I prepare to graduate and enter the nursing workforce this fall, the topic of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the workplace resonates deeply with me. My journey to becoming a nurse has been shaped not only by my education but also by personal experiences, particularly witnessing my dad, a former fire captain, grapple with the symptomology of PTSD. His story sheds light on the profound impact of PTSD on frontline workers and underscores the urgent need for proactive support and intervention in the healthcare profession.
My dad’s experience with PTSD began to unfold as I was growing up. Decades of service in the fire department exposed him to traumatic events ranging from house fires to medical emergencies. It wasn’t until later in his career that he began to recognize the signs of PTSD: hyper-arousal, intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors and negative changes in thoughts and feelings. Like many others, he initially struggled to acknowledge his own mental health challenges, a testament to the stigma surrounding mental health issues in traditionally male-dominated professions.
The journey to understanding and addressing his PTSD was a challenging one, and it had a profound impact on our family. It required self-reflection, professional support and a willingness to confront difficult emotions. Ultimately, my dad’s experience taught me the importance of prioritizing mental health and seeking help when needed. His resilience in the face of adversity serves as a source of inspiration as I embark on my own career in nursing.
As I prepare to enter the nursing workforce, I am acutely aware of the prevalence of PTSD among healthcare professionals. The demands of the profession, coupled with exposure to traumatic events and chronic stressors, place nurses at heightened risk for developing PTSD. The implications of PTSD in the nursing workforce are profound. Not only does it impact individual nurses’ well-being, but it also has implications for patient care and organizational dynamics. Nurses experiencing PTSD may struggle with a wide range of symptoms, all of which can affect their ability to provide quality care and maintain healthy relationships with colleagues and patients.
In my own experiences in the intensive care unit and within clinical settings, I have encountered situations that have left a lasting impact on me. Witnessing deaths from overdoses, dealing with ethical or moral dilemmas and watching teenagers younger than myself die unexpectedly in the emergency department have all presented unique challenges. I vividly remember a particularly difficult moment when a teenage patient looked up at me, her eyes filled with fear, and asked, “Am I going to die?” Her question, laden with impending doom, shook me to my core and highlighted the immense responsibility and emotional toll of nursing.
The Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation Initiative emphasizes the importance of addressing various aspects of nurse well-being, including mental health, to promote a healthier workforce. However, the prevalence of PTSD among nurses and the stigma surrounding mental health issues within the profession suggest that there is still much work to be done in this area. By fostering a culture of openness, support and resilience, we can work towards creating a healthier and more resilient nursing workforce for the benefit of both nurses and the patients they serve.
As I prepare to enter the nursing profession, I am committed to advocating for mental health awareness and support initiatives. Drawing from my dad’s experiences and my own understanding of the challenges facing healthcare professionals, I am determined to prioritize mental health and seek help when needed. By sharing my story and raising awareness of PTSD in the workplace, I hope to contribute to a culture of openness and support within the nursing profession. Together, we can work towards creating a workplace where nurses feel empowered to prioritize their own well-being and provide the best possible care for their patients.