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Description
Background: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) nurses work in a high-stress environment where they are exposed daily to traumatic situations. The demanding emotional and physical challenges contribute to significant psychological burdens, including increased stress and anxiety. Purpose: The current paper proposes a research design to examine the outcomes of stress, anxiety levels, and mental well-being on PICU nurses when workplace support and structured debriefing sessions take place following a traumatic event. Methods: Participants will be recruited from PICU hospitals in Northern California. Participation will be voluntary, and informed consent will be obtained prior to the study. The selection criteria will include registered nurses with a minimum of three years of experience in the PICU setting. Results: Standardized mental health assessment scales, such the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale will be used to gather quantitative data as well as descriptive statistics which will provide an overview of baseline psychological variables. Afterwards, inferential statistics such as the t-test will be used to compare the averages between the control group and the intervention group, utilizing pre- and post-test measures. The analysis will then examine correlations between the participation in structured debriefing following a critical incident and the improvements in psychological outcomes, including reduced anxiety levels, decreased stress, and improved psychological well-being among PICU nurses. Conclusion: Workplace stressors significantly impact the emotional health of PICU nurses and can result in heightened levels of stress and anxiety. By addressing the foundation of these challenges, this study recognizes the importance of mental health interventions as it supports the development of strategies to strengthen overall well-being of pediatric nurses working in critical care settings.
Department
Nursing
Publication Date
2024
Sponsorship/Conference/Institution
Dominican University of California
City
San Rafael, CA
Keywords
pediatric nurse, pediatric intensive care, workplace stress, occupational stress, stress management, anxiety, mental health, mental health intervention, burnout
Disciplines
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Nursing | Pediatrics