Nursing Assessment & Interventions for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Page reviewed and updated: July 2023
Post-traumatic stress disorder can occur in any individual who has experienced a traumatic event. Signs and symptoms may be difficult to recognize, but as nurses, we can use critical thinking to assess patients at risk. We are positioned to make an impact by identifying patients and advocating for treatment. The resources below are available to help nurses successfully recognize and manage PTSD in patients and ourselves. You’ll also find content related to specific traumatic events that can contribute to PTSD. Make sure you’re familiar with these issues and how they impact the care you provide.
Nursing Assessment for PTSD
Posttraumatic stress disorder can occur after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, such as physical or sexual assault, an accident, war, natural disaster, or unexpected death of a loved one. Feelings of fear, shock, anger, anxiety, and guilt are prolonged and interfere with the ability to function socially, at work, and in relationships. For diagnosis, the person must be experiencing a certain number of symptoms in four specific categories: re-experiencing; avoidance; persistent negative alterations in cognitions and mood; and alterations in arousal and activity.
Pocket Card: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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Depression and PTSD as Predictors of Attrition in Older Adult Exercise Programs: A Systematic Review
Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, January/March 2023
Feasibility of Risk Factor-Based Screening for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Trauma
Journal of Trauma Nursing, January/February 2023
NCPD Association of Gender, Race, Mechanism of Injury on Alcohol Use, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Depression in Trauma
Journal of Trauma Nursing, September/October 2022
Recognizing Childbirth-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
The Nurse Practitioner, September 2022
Four Questions Nurses Can Ask to Predict PTSD 1 Year After a Motor Vehicle Crash
Journal of Trauma Nursing, March/April 2022
Acute Traumatic Stress Screening Can Identify Patients and Their Partners at Risk for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms After a Cardiac Arrest: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study
Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, July/August 2022
Screening of Acute Traumatic Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Pediatric Trauma Patients: A Pilot Study
Journal of Trauma Nursing, July/August 2021
NCPD Recognizing Risk and Presence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Women
The Nurse Practitioner, June 2021
Prevalence of Childhood Maltreatment and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Male Inmates in Iceland
Journal of Forensic Nursing, April/June 2021
Trauma Identification in the Primary Care Setting and Next Steps
The Nurse Practitioner, October 2020
Depressive Symptom Clusters and Their Relationship With Anxiety and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Patients with Cancer: The Use of Latent Class Analysis
Cancer Nursing, September/October 2019
Patient-Reported Psychological Distress After Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Evidence for Post-traumatic Stress
Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation & Prevention, September 2019
Interventions for PTSD
Treatment of PTSD involves psychotherapy, medication, or both. Learn about the various types of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapies and medications used as first-line treatments, as well as other medications and supplemental therapies used to augment treatment or help manage specific symptoms.
The Effect of Intensive Care Unit Diaries on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, September/October 2022
The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Posttraumatic Stress of Mothers with Premature Neonates Admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Holistic Nursing Practice, May/June 2022
Teaching Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Nursing Made Incredibly Easy! January/February 2021
Reducing Severity of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Intensive Care Unit Survivors
Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, November/December 2020
NCPD Use of Stellate Ganglion Block to Treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Narrative Review
Topics in Pain Management, November 2021
PTSD and Nurses
Anyone can develop PTSD, including families of victims, emergency personnel and rescue workers, and children. Learn about secondary-traumatic stress and PTSD in nurses, and be able to recognize the symptoms in yourself and your colleagues.
Impact of COVID-19 on Nursing Students: Factors Associated with PTSD Risk
Journal of Christian Nursing, October/December 2022
COVID-19 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Clinical Nurse Specialists
Clinical Nurse Specialist: The Journal for Advanced Nursing Practice, July/August 2022
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Nurses During a Pandemic: Implications for Nurse Leaders
JONA: Journal of Nursing Administration, February 2022
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Nurses Caring for Patients with COVID-19
Nursing2021, July 2021
Surviving the Trauma of COVID
Journal of Christian Nursing, April/June 2021
Coping with Moral Distress During COVID-19
Nursing2021, February 2021
Giving Meaning to Resilience During COVID-19
Lippincott NursingCenter, May 2020
Original Research: Exploring the Effects of a Nurse-Initiated Diary Intervention on Post-Critical Care Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, May 2020
Factors Affecting Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in South Korean Trauma Nurses
Journal of Trauma Nursing, January/February 2020
NCPD Life After Trauma: A Survey of Level 1 Trauma Center Regarding Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder
Journal of Trauma Nursing, September/October 2019
Domestic Violence & PTSD
As with other traumatic events, victims and witnesses of domestic violence can suffer lasting effects and develop PTSD. Learn about screening programs, risk factors, approaching the topic, and appropriate interventions.
Neural Correlates of Traumatic Brain Injury in Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Structural and Functional Connectivity Neuroimaging Study
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, January/February 2022
A Nurse's Guide to Intimate Partner Violence
Nursing Made Incredibly Easy! March/April 2021
Intimate Partner Violence
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, April 2020
NCPD A Case of Nonfatal Strangulation Associated with Intimate Partner Violence
Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal, July/September 2020
NCPD The CARE Approach: Supporting Women Who Disclose Intimate Partner Violence
Nursing Made Incredibly Easy! September/October 2019
Veterans & PTSD
PTSD is a significant mental health disorder among veterans. Review the relevance of PTSD in the veteran population along with known barriers to care, common concomitant conditions, evidence-based treatment options, and the role of the nurse in identifying and treating veterans with PTSD.
Discriminating Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using Latent Neuroimaging and Neuropsychological Profiles in Active-Duty Military Service Members
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, July/August 2023
Latent Neuropsychological Profiles To Discriminate Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Active-Duty Service Members
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, October 2022
Implementation of a Mobile Technology-Supported Diaphragmatic Breathing Intervention in Military mTBI with PTSD
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, May/June 2022
Associations Among PTSD and Postconcussive Symptoms in the Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium-Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium Prospective, Longitudinal Study Cohort
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, November, December 2021
Research Letter: PTSD Symptom Severity and Multiple Traumatic Brain Injuries Are Associated with Elevated Memory Complaints in Veterans with Histories of Mild TBI
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, November/December 2021
Cognition and Other Predictors of Functional Disability Among Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, January/Febuary 2021
Medical Surgical Nurse Self-perceived Competency in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder/Substance Use Disorder Veteran Care in a Non-Veterans Health Administration Setting
JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, April 2020
Brain Volume in Veterans: Relationship to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, July/August 2020
A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on PTSD Following TBI Among Military/Veteran and Civilian Populations
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, January/February 2020
Differences in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Depression and Attribution of Symptoms in Service Members With Combat Versus Noncombat Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, January/February 2020
Cognitive Rehabilitation With Mobile Technology and Social Support for Veterans With TBI and PTSD: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, January/February 2019