Speakers - WNSC 2024

Abstract

This presentation focuses on the nature of the daily work traumas experienced by healthcare professionals and how these traumas can injure their brains. These internal injuries from trauma experiences can cause post-traumatic stress, depression, sleep and anxiety disorders, burnout, apathy and indifference, suicide, and a host of other psychological and emotional distressing symptoms. 300-400 physicians die of suicide in the USA every year. Female nurses have a 43% higher suicide rate / Male nurses 22% more than the general population. 28% of nurses have symptoms of PTSD with 15-18% having severe symptoms (8% in the general population). 31% of nurses have serious sleeping disorders. 18% of nurses have depression (double the general population). About 20% of nurses have anxiety disorder symptoms.

The presentation discusses what resilience is and provides specific evidence-based strategies to strengthen resilience every day – with every patient. It provides additional evidence-based strategies that nurses can practice daily to enhance their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. The presentation also highlights one of the most effective treatments to recover and heal from work traumas, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – which the instructor has experienced. Attendees will learn how to locate an EMDR-certified trauma professional in their area (anywhere in the world).