Title: What is Vicarious Trauma | AHU Online
Headings: Vicarious Trauma: Information, Prevention and Resources
Vicarious Trauma: Information, Prevention and Resources
What Is Vicarious Trauma?
Examples of Vicarious Trauma
How to Identify Vicarious Trauma
How to Address Vicarious Trauma
Vicarious Trauma and the AHU Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Recommended Readings
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Content: feeling unworthy or undeserving of love
Many healthcare employers have instituted screening programs intended to recognize signs of vicarious trauma and burnout in nurses and other clinicians. These programs are implemented in conjunction with information on self-assessment and increased awareness of the prevalence of vicarious trauma and other stressors in healthcare environments. How to Address Vicarious Trauma
The veteran nurse in the above example who abandoned a 22-year career was eventually able to return to the profession after working with a trauma therapist. Effective treatments for vicarious trauma include cognitive behavior therapy, eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), resilience training and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Preventing and recovering from the negative effects of vicarious trauma depend on having strong personal and professional support networks. Feelings of isolation and ineffectiveness can be alleviated by talking with colleagues. Nurse managers play an important role in promoting self-assessment and self-help for their staff members, but they can have a more direct impact on preventing vicarious trauma by helping nurses with their most challenging cases and with their caseloads. The U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime has created the Vicarious Trauma Toolkit designed to assist healthcare professionals and others who work with the victims of trauma by providing information and techniques they can apply to prevent and treat the condition. In particular, the tool kit’s “What Is Vicarious Trauma?” page lists the common reactions to negative trauma and explains the steps coworkers and managers can take to assist their colleagues who may be suffering from vicarious trauma.