Dealing with trauma

nurse wellbeing trauma Oct 02, 2025

Caring for the Carers: Addressing Trauma in the Operating Suite 🏥

Dealing with trauma is essential in protecting perioperative nurse wellbeing. The perioperative environment involves exposure to acute patient deterioration, critical surgical complications, unexpected deaths, and moral distress — each of which can generate both immediate and cumulative psychological harm ❤️. Trauma isn’t just what happens in a crisis, but the way that event is processed over time, meaning structured supports to surround nursing staff are imperative to processing trauma safely.

Leaders and institutions must understand how trauma impacts cognition, emotional regulation, sense of safety, trust, self‐efficacy, and relationships — known as trauma-informed awareness 🌿. Incorporating regular training on recognising signs of trauma and moral injury helps nurses to identify when they need help, and builds a shared language in teams to reduce stigma. Additionally, peer support and debriefing after critical events are essential. Structured debriefs enable nurses to express emotions, reconcile conflicting values, and derive meaning from distressing situations, which supports emotional processing and resilience.

Self care also plays a huge role. Nurses need safe space for reflection, rest, boundary setting outside work, mindfulness or grounding practices, and access to counselling or psychological services 😴. Institutions should embed policies supporting protected time for recovery, mental health leave where needed, and routine wellbeing check-ins. Employee assistance programs should also be implemented at institutions to ensure staff are linked in with trained professionals who can assist in the processing journey.

Recognition from leadership that trauma exposure is part of the role, removal of shame around needing support, and building psychological safety where speaking out is safe can transform trauma from an individual burden into something that is shared and managed 🌟. When perioperative nurse leaders model vulnerability, encourage seeking help, and invest in systemic support, the environment becomes one in which nurses are equipped to process trauma in a safe and supportive manner.

Build Knowledge ✅
Improve Safety ✅

References:

Crowe, S., Howard, J., & Vanderslott, S. (2020). The emotional impact of adverse events on health professionals: A systematic review. BMJ Open, 10(6), e034828. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034828

Lang, J., & Shafiei, T. (2022). Workplace bullying, burnout and resilience amongst perioperative nurses in Australia: A descriptive correlational study. Journal of Nursing Management, 30(1), 238–245. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13437

O’Keeffe, V., & Fennessy, A. (2023). Elevating well-being and resilience in perioperative nursing: Together we rise. AORN Journal, 117(2), 159–168. https://doi.org/10.1002/aorn.14281

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