Trauma-Informed Educational Practices within the Undergraduate Nursing Classroom: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Ongoing evidence of trauma in nurses, beginning in nursing school, requires educators to take a trauma-informed approach to teaching and learning to minimize re-traumatization and to ultimately achieve socially-just student outcomes. Methods: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of trauma-informed educational practices (TIEP) on nursing students and the trauma-informed climate in the classroom using an intervention comparison group pre-posttest design. Results: Secondary traumatic stress (STS) scores declined for both groups pre- to post-test. There was a statistically significant difference in STS change scores between intervention and comparison groups (p < 0.05), but not in the direction hypothesized. Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that other factors in the nursing classroom might have contributed significantly to a reduction in STS. In addition to outcomes, future TIEP evaluations should explore student awareness and experiences of trauma, resilience, professional preparation, and learning outcomes in the classroom setting.