Registered Nurses’ Perceptions of Trauma-Informed Care Graduate Educational Training in Online and In-Person Modalities

Abstract

Trauma-informed care (TIC) stands as a beacon of transformative change within healthcare organizations, advocating for consistent practice models and bolstering mental health education across diverse settings (Bunting et al., 2019). For registered nurses (RNs) operating in the high-pressure environment of emergency departments (EDs), TIC emerges as a guiding principle, aiming to cultivate care practices that alleviate patient trauma and safeguard against retraumatization of patients and staff (Fleishman et al., 2019). This research investigated the importance of providing trauma-informed education to RNs in EDs, focusing on RNs' perspectives. The study used qualitative narrative inquiry research design to explore RNs' perceptions of TIC continuing education initiatives led by organizational leadership, particularly in enhancing organizational outcomes. The study highlights the critical need for ongoing education, especially given the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the experiences of RNs in the field. This study emphasizes its significance in improving organizational outcomes and patient care quality by contributing to the existing body of research on TIC education. Recommendations stemming from this research include integrating TIC education into nursing curricula, offering online training, promoting collaboration across healthcare disciplines, and establishing institutional policies supportive of TIC principles. Drawing from the TIC conceptual framework and the implications of this study, future research directions are proposed, including investigating the impact of TIC training on nursing practice in person and online, identifying obstacles to TIC implementation, and exploring TIC's potential in addressing healthcare disparities.