Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - A Guide for Nursing Students

Abstract

The effect of trauma on an individual's general well-being cannot be overemphasized. Trauma manifests in the form of events that threaten the well-being of the individual exposed and the people they care about. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychological disorder that mostly manifests in individuals who have been involved in one or more traumatic events. Post-traumatic stress disorder manifests in diverse symptoms like flashbacks of the traumatic event and behavior that is suggestive of avoidance of friends and family.

Saddled with the responsibility to detect post-traumatic stress disorder, are nurses who have the requisite skills and technical know-how to understand how long it has lingered and the kind of intervention that is tailored for a specific individual or patient. The aim of this thesis is to provide an effective guide on post-traumatic stress disorder for student nurses and healthcare professionals in Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Pori, Finland. It will equip them with re-requisite skills that are needed for providing effective care for posttraumatic stress disorder patients that will improve their general well-being.

A thorough literature search was conducted on what post-traumatic stress disorder entailed and how nurses can intervene. Articles and research pertaining to post-traumatic stress disorder and nursing intervention were the basis for adopting literature. The results of this thesis showed that there are two ways by which nurses can intervene in cases of patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, which are psychological and pharmacological interventions. The results of the literature search were instrumental in creating a guidebook for student nurses.

The Waterfall Model was the methodology adopted for the project. This was because it allowed for slow and discrete stages like waterfalls. The findings and product of this thesis will help in advancing the knowledge and skills of nurses and other health care professionals to have a proper comprehension of what post-traumatic stress entails and how nurses can intervene in cases of patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.