Prolonged Disaster Nursing: Recognizing & Handling Trauma, Part 2

This is episode 2 of 2..

“I became a nurse because I wanted to be bedside, I wanted to care, I wanted to touch and actually be next to a patient. Now, not being able to give that basic care that I think someone needs… it's discouraging, it’s very upsetting to not be able to do that.” – S. Curran, BSN RN

Disaster nursing should be quick and intense - and then over. What are the effects on caregivers when it continues for months? Nurse Shaina Curran and Dr. Jenny D’Olympia discuss the effects of COVID-19 on frontline nurses.

Topics discussed include: limitations and red tape around caring for patients, signs of stress and trauma nurses can look for, ways to decompress during and after a shift, feelings of anger, communicating and interacting with family, parallels to returning combat veterans, and self-care strategies.

Expert: Shaina Curran, BSN RN
Shaina has been a traveling nurse for three years and has worked three COVID-19 contracts in Boston and across the country since March 2020. Before becoming an RN, Shaina was a hospice certified nursing assistant.

Expert: Dr. Jenny D’Olympia licensed mental health counselor with a PhD in Psychology.
Dr. D’Olympia has nine years in the US Air Force, five active and four reserve with several deployments. Through the Department of Veterans Affairs she worked with returning veterans and their families assisting with readjustment from war including feelings of anxiety, depression, and trauma. She is the daughter-in-law of a nurse!

Follow the #CareForNurses campaign on Facebook and Instagram for m ore mental health resources for COVID nurses.