Adult Patient with Childhood Trauma- Nurse Supporting Survivors

Abstract

Childhood trauma can have long-term effect on a person’s mental health and wellbeing. This thesis focuses on describing how childhood trauma affects adult mental health and how nurses and healthcare professionals can support clients who have experienced trauma, mostly the trauma from childhood.

The study used a descriptive literature review method, and it has eight peer-reviewed studies selected. Inductive content analysis was used to examine the selected studies, to identify the meaning units, and group them into categories to find out the impacts of childhood trauma and nursing support strategies.

The results showed that childhood trauma is associated with depression, anxiety, emotional difficulties, PTSD, behavioural problems, and low self-esteem later in life. Psychological mechanisms such as emotional instability also play a vital role. Effective nursing support included trauma-informed care (TIC), therapeutic communication and coping support. Nurses mostly need proper training and confidence to identify trauma so that they can respond safely to the client’s needs.

Overall, the findings aspect the importance of understanding trauma and using trauma-informed nursing practices in all care services. Strengthening nurse education, building safe care environments and developing collaboration between professionals. Those measures can help and support trauma survivors better. The findings can be convenient for nurses, students, and healthcare professionals who meet clients with a trauma background.

Lastly, more study is required to determine which nurse treatments work best and how organizations may better integrate trauma-informed care into routine operations.