RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Emergency department (ED) nurses are exposed to the risk of secondary traumatic stress (STS), which poses a threat not only to nurses' health and psychological well-being but also adversely affects the execution of their professional duties. The quality and outcome of their nursing services are negatively affected by STS. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to comprehensively investigate the prevalence and intensity of Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) among Emergency Department (ED) nurses. It aims to identify and analyze the socio-demographic, occupational, and psychological factors that influence the severity and variation of STS experienced by these nurses. METHODS: The study utilized a sequential explanatory mixed methods approach, including two phases. Phase 1 employed a cross-sectional study design, utilizing a convenience sample of 181 nurses to explore the levels of STS and the factors associated with it. Following this, Phase 2 was structured as a qualitative descriptive study, which involved conducting semi-structured interviews with a purposefully selected group of ten ED nurses. Data collection took place at three major hospitals in Saudi Arabia during the period from January to June 2022. RESULTS: A total of 181 participants were included in the study. The mean STSS score reported by the nurses was 51 (SD = 13.23) out of the maximum possible score of 85, indicating severe STS among ED nurses. Factors associated with an increase in the levels of STS among ED nurses included being female, older in age, married, possessing higher education and experience, having a positive relationship with colleagues, receiving organisational support, and dealing with a higher number of trauma cases. Several themes emerged from the qualitative interviews including: ED Characteristics: Dual Impact on STS, Emotional Resonance and Vulnerability, Personal Life Stressors, The Ability to Cope, and Social Support. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Future strategies and interventions targeting STS should be prioritized to effectively manage its impact on ED nurses. It is crucial to develop targeted interventions that address the specific factors contributing to STS, as identified in this study. Additionally, these findings aim to enhance awareness among nursing administrators, managers, and supervisors about the critical factors associated with STS. This awareness is essential for accurately assessing and developing interventions that mitigate STS among nursing staff.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The experience of the transition from a student nurse to a registered nurse is a challenging period for newly graduated registered nurses. AIM: To explore newly graduated registered nurses' experiences of transition from student to registered nurse in clinical practice. DESIGN: A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews conducted with 12 Kuwaiti newly graduated registered nurses. FINDINGS: The findings generated three themes: nursing support; education preparation; and psychological wellbeing. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study is the first in Kuwait aiming to understand Kuwaiti national newly graduated registered nurses' transition experiences from student nurses to registered nurses in clinical practice. While the study revealed that newly graduated registered nurses received limited organisational support, the nursing policymakers in health care organisations and nursing education in Kuwait need to develop plans to improve newly graduated registered nurses' knowledge, skills and confidence and align them with the roles and realities of actual nursing practice, to improve retention. There is a need to change the societal image of nursing in Kuwait by highlighting the importance of the nursing profession within the health care delivery. The study recommends further research on newly graduated registered nurses' transition experiences into their new nursing roles to identify the factors behind their decision to stay or to leave, as this could offer possible solutions to address newly graduated registered nurses' retention in the future.
