A Trauma-Informed Care Toolkit: The Utility of the Perinatal Nurse

Background: Nurses are central caregivers in the carryout of intrapartum care. Their actions directly impact laboring patients, as well as, other clinical team members. They receive little to no training on trauma-informed care (TIC) despite working with a population more likely to be affect by trauma and during a time where patients are vulnerable to trauma. Local Problem: Experiences of traumatic stress are common in our population and more likely to affect women. Childbearing proves to be a time when patients are particularly vulnerable. Trauma can develop or patients can experience re-traumatization due to the intimate and intense nature of this process. TIC principles were developed to equip care providers with the knowledge and skills to recognize and limit trauma experiences. Methods: Three single-group pretest-posttest surveys were designed for use in this quality improvement project. Data was collected voluntarily from nurses who partook in aspects of the toolkit. Interventions A TIC toolkit designed for this quality improvement project which included an in- service, newsletter and evidence-based resources. Results Nurses frequently care for patients who have experienced emotional trauma but do not routinely receive education on the behaviors, skills and knowledge related to caring persons who have experience trauma. We saw improvements in nurses' skills in recognizing trauma and providing TIC during vulnerable procedures. Qualitative data provides suggestions for future improvements. Conclusions TIC training is lacking in an area of nursing where care is provided to persons who experience trauma. Nurses are a vital resource for impacting the behaviors and practices of the entire care team.