Date of Award
Summer 2025
Document Type
Open Access Dissertation
Department
College of Nursing
First Advisor
Phyllis Raynor
Abstract
Introduction: Psychiatric nurses (PNs) had a unique lived experience of shared trauma (ST) during the COVID-19 pandemic. These nurses experienced the same traumatic event, COVID-19, with associated trauma symptoms as their patients. This mixed methods study aims to triangulate data on ST in PNs using a quantitative and qualitative study. Methods: PN (N=24) completed a semi-structured interview during the summer and fall of 2024. A quantitative study PN (N=552) in spring 2023, using the Shared Trauma and Professional Posttraumatic Growth (STPPG) inventory, was completed with descriptive and inferential statistics using SAS 9.4. A thematic analysis of the interviews was completed using Atlas.ti. Results: PN demographics and personal experience with COVID-19 were significantly related to their ST and PPG scores. PNs 40 and older reported lower levels of ST and PPG. Females reported higher ST scores compared to males. PNs who worked full-time did travel nursing, or caring for someone they knew with COVID-19 also had increased ST and PPG scores. Conclusions: This novel study provides valuable insight into PN working and living during COVID-19 and implications for future support needed for ongoing health and well-being. The lessons learned from these PNs during COVID-19 will help nurses develop interventions that will prepare and equip nurses to navigate future ST experiences.
Rights
© 2025, April Lynne Hutto
Recommended Citation
Hutto, A. L.(2025). A Mixed Methods Study Exploring the Lived Experience of Shared Trauma in Psychiatric Nurses During COVID-19. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/8446