I have been a nurse for 29 years, most of them specializing in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). During my years of nursing, I have seen firsthand the lasting effects of trauma. A NICU admission is one of the most stressful life experiences one can encounter, and can be equated to a form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in parents. Nurses guide patient care in such a way as to reduce trauma whenever possible, although some traumatic interactions are inevitable to provide life-saving care and treatments.
Learning about trauma-informed care was eye-opening for me. I had no idea that traumatic events at an early age could lead to higher rates of different diseases, obesity, and drug addiction as adults. Since unfortunately, trauma can be unavoidable at times, I compiled research to determine what can be done to improve resiliency and mitigate the aftereffects once trauma has occurred.                                                              It is my wish that traumatic events didn’t happen in the first place. However, it is my quest to provide assistance to those struggling with the aftereffects of trauma to include the caregivers and support people in their lives.