The Importance of Trauma-Informed Care in Nursing

Healthcare providers are trained to recognize how the social determinants of health can impact a patient’s well-being. They help connect factors like a patient’s housing situation or employment status to their overall picture of health.

Trauma-informed care examines a patient’s health picture even closer. For instance, did they experience a past trauma that led to a substance use disorder?

We discuss how nurses can incorporate trauma-informed care (TIC) to create a healing environment and improve patient outcomes. Explore tips on how you can use TIC in your practice as a nurse.

Trauma-informed care is a human-centered approach to patient care. By recognizing a patient’s past and present trauma, healthcare providers can create an individual plan of care for patients.

The Trauma-Informed Care Implementation Resource Center defines trauma as something that “results from exposure to an incident or series of events that are emotionally disturbing or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being.”

Experiences that cause trauma may include abuse, neglect, sudden loss of a loved one, poverty, racism, or oppression. Trauma-informed care redirects the focus from “what is wrong with you?” to “what happened to you?” This approach leads to a more trusting, collaborative relationship between patients and providers.

Catherine Uram, MD, is an integrative medicine provider, Reiki master, and author. She says, “Trauma-informed care is compassionate care. Engaging in compassionate care allows us to connect with our patients in their humanity, offering them solace, comfort, hope, and many times, reinstating their sense of dignity.”

By incorporating the principles of TIC, nurses can approach mental healthcare differently.

Trauma can occur at any time in a patient’s life. A person who experienced an adverse childhood event (ACE) such as abuse or neglect is at risk for developing health issues as an adult. Applying the principles of trauma-informed care helps providers connect these issues.

Emily Weber, chief nursing officer at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, says, “Adverse childhood events have impacts on life-long mental and physical health. Therefore, it is essential that we understand how trauma impacts the body, brain, behaviors, and beliefs of our patients.”

She continues, “This is especially important in caring for children because complex trauma impacts the development of the brain and stress response systems.”

According to one 2018 study, ACEs can be linked to illnesses in adulthood such as mental health challenges, substance use disorder, heart or lung disease, and cancer.

As a nurse, identifying a patient’s past or present trauma can inform your care. Depending on the clinical setting, nurses may be trained to recognize the signs that a patient has experienced trauma. Practice settings like the emergency department may use tools like the trauma screening questionnaire to identify trauma.

Lindsay Nelson, MPA, is an expert trauma-informed care activist, coach, and trainer. She specializes in sexual and reproductive rights and advocates for TIC in the clinical setting.

Nelson shares her recommendations for identifying past trauma in patients. She says to look for signs like:

Hospital admissions are stressful and anxiety-inducing for most patients. If a patient has experienced trauma in the past, being in the hospital can cause a reaction called retraumatization.

The American Psychological Association defines retraumatization as “one’s reaction to a traumatic exposure that is colored, intensified, amplified, or shaped by one’s reactions and adaptational style to previous traumatic experiences.”

Betty Long, RN, MHA, is the president, CEO, and founder of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates and a nationally recognized expert and speaker on patient advocacy. She explains how important trauma-informed care is in today’s healthcare climate:

“Today’s post-COVID healthcare environment is fraught with staffing shortages resulting in negatively impacting patients’ experiences. And that is true for ALL patients, not just those who have experienced previous trauma.”

Not only could a poor experience lead to retraumatization, but it could prevent patients from seeking care in the future. With the following tips, nurses can incorporate TIC strategies to prevent retraumatization and promote healing.

Understanding the value of trauma-informed care is the first step. Below are strategies nurses can take into practice.

Nelson says it’s safest for nurses to approach each patient assuming they may have experienced trauma. Observe for nonverbal cues or listen for hints in conversation.

Nurses should avoid forcing a patient to discuss details about their trauma. Instead, ask leading questions to allow the patient to open up on their terms.

Always let the patient know they’re in control of their body. Ask permission before touching a patient and try to find out about any triggers.

You can incorporate TIC in the pediatric setting by assuming hospitalization will be traumatic for the child. How can you make the child’s experience as comfortable as possible while allowing them to feel in control? Consider how your care will impact the child’s future so they avoid experiencing retraumatization later in life. Take advantage of resources like the child’s parents or guardians or a child life therapist during invasive procedures.

When nurses respect patients’ boundaries and privacy, it allows them to maintain bodily autonomy during a hospitalization. For instance, always be mindful to knock before entering a room or step out during private conversations. Remember to ask permission before touching a patient or lifting their gown during an assessment.

When supporting a patient who’s experienced trauma, speak with a calm, steady voice and take pauses so the patient can ask questions. Maintain soft eye contact that shows you’re engaged in the conversation while taking appropriate gaze breaks.

“By forming connections and providing a safe environment, nurses can help provide the nurturing care that will help them heal,” says Weber.

Consider phrasing questions in a way that allows patients to feel in control. Long recommends nurses “listen generously.” Instead of listening to respond, listen to understand.

Long also notes the value of overcommunicating with patients who’ve experienced trauma. This may mean spending extra time explaining procedures or confirming the patient’s preferences.

Nurses may also overcommunicate during patient education. When teaching your patient about items like follow-up care or discharge instructions, allow them plenty of opportunities to ask questions. You can also print extra copies of health material and include any loved ones at the bedside in teaching.

As you establish a rapport with your patient, create an environment that allows them to feel in control of their care. For example, instead of saying, “I’m going to do this,” Nelson suggests asking, “May I do this?”

Nelson also discusses the importance of validating a patient’s decision to come in for care. Many survivors avoid healthcare to prevent retraumatization, so acknowledge their courage by saying something like, “I’m so glad you came in today so we can help you take care of yourself.”

For a trauma survivor, feelings of helplessness and anticipating pain can cause retraumatization during a bedside procedure. Here are a few tips for incorporating TIC during a procedure.

Explain what you or the provider will be doing and why. Carefully explain all the steps that will be involved during the procedure and how long it’ll take. At this time, you’ll want to find out if any touch or position will be triggering for the patient. This will help you and any other providers avoid retraumatizing the patient.

As the nurse, your role is to serve as a go-between for patients and providers throughout bedside procedures. Ask the patient their preference on updates throughout the procedure. You may ask something like, “Do you want to know what’s next, or would you rather us tell you after we’re finished?”.

Following an invasive procedure, ask the patient if they want time alone or your support. You can guide the patient in deep breathing exercises as they recover and return to a relaxed state.