Caring for the Caregiver: Managing Stress and Reducing Risk of Vicarious Trauma in Healthcare
Obstetrical and Neonatal nursing is a high risk, high reward specialty and there is a strong need for support & self-care to prevent burnout and unhealthy coping
mechanisms.
Following a traumatic birth, Challenging shift or event, providers and nurses may withdraw and even lose their empathy for patients, to protect themselves. Some obstetrical and neonatal nurses may try to emotionally detach as a symptom of secondary trauma. Some may become numb as a defense or suffer from PTSD. There are many forms of trauma. Patients can present with historical trauma or events and childbirth can trigger their trauma. Providers and staff can be exposed to patients traumas, events and situations that cause secondary trauma and then those professionals will teach and train the next generation of health care providers and share these traumas.