Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Apr;55(2):149-156.
doi: 10.1111/nuf.12409. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

An evolutionary concept analysis of secondary traumatic stress in nurses

Tracey C Arnold  1
Affiliations

An evolutionary concept analysis of secondary traumatic stress in nurses

Tracey C Arnold. Nurs Forum. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to provide conceptual clarification of secondary traumatic stress (STS) in nurses.

Background: As an empathetic helping profession, nurses are at increased risk for STS. Interchangeable usage of related terms among multidisciplinary literature has resulted in lack of conceptual clarity resulting in conflation of terms. Conceptual clarity is necessary for a foundation for further research on treatment.

Methods: Rodgers' evolutionary model of concept analysis.

Results: Nurses are predisposed to STS due to exposure, empathy, bonding, and personal factors. Essential attributes were found to be posttraumatic stress disorder-like symptoms, biological symptoms, social symptoms, and psychological symptoms. Resultant consequences included an altered worldview, interpersonal difficulties, and decreased occupational commitment.

Conclusion: This concept analysis, the first focusing on STS, provides conceptual clarity and a concept map of STS within the nursing population.

Keywords: Rodgers' evolutionary model; concept analysis; concept map; secondary traumatic stress.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Missouridou E. Secondary posttraumatic stress and nurses' emotional responses to patient's trauma. J Trauma Nurs. 2017;24(2):110-115. https://doi.org/10.1097/JTN.0000000000000274
    1. Potter P, Deshields T, Berger JA, Clarke M, Olsen S, Chen L. Evaluation of a compassion fatigue resiliency program for oncology nurses. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2013;40(2):180-187. https://doi.org/10.1188/13.onf.180-187
    1. Hooper C, Craig J, Janvrin DR, Wetsel MA, Reimels E. Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and compassion fatigue among emergency nurses compared with nurses in other selected inpatient specialties. J Emerg Nurs. 2010;36(5):420-427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2009.11.027
    1. Stamm BH. The Concise ProQOL Manual. 2nd ed. Pocatello, ID: Center for Victims of Torture; 2010.
    1. Joinson C. Coping with compassion fatigue. Nursing. 1992;22(4):116-121. https://doi.org/10.1097/00152193-199204000-00035

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources