It is absolutely imperative that professionals who treat/witness trauma undergo ongoing debriefings/CISMs. As a combat Iraqi veteran RN, I personally know how very important this issue is. We must have an outlet to process, reflect and deal with the trauma that we witness. We need a safe place to discuss our experiences. If we neglect ourselves, we are unable to effectively care for others. Thanks for discussing this important issue.
Original Post:
December 30, 2008
Title: Critical Stress
I personally feel this is an important issue that is frequently swept aside in many critical incident situations. I have been both an EMT and an RN for many years, but have had very few debriefing sessions. Several occasions were warranted, such as a when an entire family perished in an MVC on Christmas Day, co-workers who were killed on their way into work, a colleague who successfully overdosed; to name just a few. The emotional and behavioral keynotes were especially noteworthy. It is no wonder that so many of my colleagues have turned to substance abuse and psychotropics to seek refuge. As for myself and a few others, we have turned to a higher power; after all there has to be more and a “better place.” I pray that is not a hollow promise. I and my co-workers have experienced many of the emotional stress responses: a. Agitation b. Anger c. Anxiety d. Apprehension e. Depression f. Fear g. Feeling abandoned h. Feeling isolated i. Feeling lost j. Feeling numb k. Feeling overwhelmed l. Greif m. Guilt n. Irritability o. Limiting contact with others (I found I withdrew and cuddled up with my Lab and quilting) p. Panic (what if I can’t make it through this shift?) q. Sadness r. Shock s. Startled t. Suspiciousness u. Uncertainty (constantly checking and rechecking your work, documentation, etc.) v. Wanting to hide (that never happened to me) w. Worry about others (BIG TIME!!). References Lynch, Virginia A. and Duval, Janet Barber. (2006). Forensic Nursing. St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby
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