Nurses can benefit from strategies that build resilience to counterbalance trauma exposures. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adverse community environments are common; nurses frequently encounter trauma victims and hear trauma narratives in most care settings. Having skills to manage the triggers present in health-care environments is essential. Contemplative practices can help to meet these needs. Breathing exercises can be used as needed throughout the work day; gratitude practices are simple but powerful; and visual journaling can help nurses process experiences. These practices are easy to implement and can profoundly affect health outcomes for nurses.
AdairK. C., Rodriguez-HomsL. G., MasoudS., MoscaP. J., & SextonJ. B. (2020). Gratitude at work: Prospective cohort study of a web-based, single-exposure well-being intervention for health care workers. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(5). e15562 doi:10.2196/1556 2.
AnglinC., Halpin-HealyC., & RosenfeldP. (2020). Reflecting art in nursing practice: Developing visual arts programs to transform and strengthen practice. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 50(5), 274–280.
5.
BarbezatD.P., & BushM. (2014). Contemplative practices in higher education. Jossey-Bass.
6.
BenevolenzaM.S., & DerigneL. (2019). The impact of climate change and natural disasters on vulnerable populations: A systematic review of literature. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 29(2), 266–281. doi:10.1080/10911359.2018.1527739.
7.
BoggissA. L., ConsedineN. S., Brenton-PetersJ. M., HofmanP. L., & SerlachiusA. S. (2020). A systematic review of gratitude interventions: Effects on physical health and health behaviors. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 110–165 doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110165.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kaiser Permanente. (2016). The ACE study survey data [Unpublished data]. US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
10.
ChinM. S., & KalesS. N. (2019). Understanding mind–body disciplines: A pilot study of paced breathing and dynamic muscle contraction on autonomic nervous system reactivity. Stress and Health, 35, 542–548. doi:10.1002/smi.2887.
11.
ClarkC. S. (2019). Healthy nurse, resilient nurse. Beginnings, 39(3), 6–28.
EmmonsR. A., & McCulloughM. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377–389. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.377.
14.
FelittiV. J., AndaR. F., NordenbergD., WilliamsonD. F., SpitzA. M., EdwardsV., … KossM.P. (2019). REPRINT OF: Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 56(6), 774–786. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2019.04.001.
15.
FoliK. J., & ThompsonJ. R. (2019). The influence of psychological trauma in nursing. Sigma Theta Tau International.
FraleyH. E., AronowitzT., & StoklosaH. M. (2020). Systematic review of human trafficking educational interventions for health care providers. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 42(2), 131–142. doi:10.1177/0193945919837366.w.
HoreshD., & BrownA. D. (2020). Traumatic stress in the age of COVID-19: A call to close critical gaps and adapt to new realities. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(4), 331.
20.
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Quality of Health Care in America.KohnL. T., CorriganJ. M., & DonaldsonM. S (Eds.). (2000). To err is human: Building a safer health system. National Academies Press.
21.
KarpavičiütėS., & MacijauskienėJ. (2016). The impact of arts activity on nursing staff well-being: An intervention in the workplace. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(4), 435.
22.
KellyL. (2020). Burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma in nurses recognizing the occupational phenomenon and personal consequences of caregiving. Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, 43(1), 73–80.
23.
KellyL. A., GeeP. M., WestonM. J., & RyanH. A. (2019). Rethinking resilience. Nursing Leader, 17(5), 461–464. doi:10.1016/j.mnl.2019.01.005.
24.
KiniP., WongJ., McInnisS., GabanaN., & BrownJ. W. (2016). The effects of gratitude expression on neural activity. NeuroImage, 128, 1–10. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.12.040.
25.
MagruderK. M., McLaughlinK. A., & Elmore BorbonD. L. (2017). Trauma is a public health issue. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 8(1), 1375338. doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1375338.
26.
MasonH., VandoniM., deBarbieriG., CodronsE., UgargolV., & BernardiL. (2013). Cardiovascular and respiratory effect of yogic slow breathing in the yoga beginner: What is the best approach?Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine (ECAM), 2013, 1–7. doi:10.1155/2013/743504.
27.
MelnykB. M., OrsoliniL., TanA., Arslanian-EngorenC., MelkusG. D., Dunbar-JacobJ., … RiceV. H. (2018). A national study links nurses' physical and mental health to medical errors and perceived worksite well-ness. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 60(2), 126–131. doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000001198.
28.
MerrickM. T., FordD. C., PortsK. A., & GuinnA. S. (2018). Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences from the 2011–2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 23 States. JAMA Pediatrics, 172(11), 1038–1044. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.2537.
29.
MetzlerM., MerrickM. T., KlevensJ., PortsK. A., & FordD.C. (2016). Adverse childhood experiences and life opportunities: Shifting the narrative. Children and Youth Services Review, 72, 141–149. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.10.021.
30.
PetersonC. T., BauerS. M., ChopraD., MillsP. J., & MaturiR. K. (2017). Effects of Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya, a multicomponent breath-based yogic practice (Pranayama), on perceived stress and general well-being. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 22(4), 788–797. doi:10.1177/2156587217730934.
31.
SangalangC. C., BecerraD., MitchellF. M., Lechuga-PeñaS., & KimI. (2019). Trauma, postmigration stress, and mental health: A comparative analysis of refugees and immigrants in the United States. Journal of Immigrant & Minority Health, 21(5), 909–919. doi:10.1007/s10903-018-0826-2.
32.
SeligmanM. E. P., SteenT. A., ParkN., & PetersonC. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. The American Psychologist, 60(5), 410–421. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.60.5.410.
33.
SextonJ. B., & AdairK. C. (2019). Forty-five good things: A prospective pilot study of the Three Good Things well-being intervention in the USA for healthcare worker emotional exhaustion, depression, work–life balance and happiness. BMJ Open, 9(3), e022695. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022695.
UsherK., DurkinJ., & BhullarN. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic and mental health impacts. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(3), 315–318. doi:10.1111/inm.12726.
36.
WatkinsP. C., UhderJ., & PichinevskiyS. (2014). Grateful recounting enhances subjective well-being: The importance of grateful processing. Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(2), 91–98. doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.927909.
37.
WolffK. T., CuevasC., IntraviaJ., BaglivioM. T., & EppsN. (2018). The effects of Neighborhood context on exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACE) among adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system: Latent classes and contextual effects. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47, 2279–3000. doi:10.1007/s10964-018-0887-5.
