Follow the medical regimen to treat medical problems associated with the traumatic event.- Assess patient's baseline mental status and monitor changes in cognitive and psychosocial function to detect the need for intervention as soon as possible.
Listen actively to patient's statements about the traumatic event to encourage a trusting relationship and open discussion.- Communicate your acceptance of patient's fears and feelings related to the traumatic event to reassure patient that feelings are appropriate and valid.
- Reassure patient of safety of the environment. Patient may be reluctant to express lingering fears and require reassurance.
- Avoid nursing care or environmental stimuli that may worsen or initiate symptoms (such as loud noises, bright lights, and painful procedures) to avoid triggering flashbacks to the traumatic event. Also, warn patient to avoid disruptive stimuli.
- Caution patient before you make physical contact and avoid approaching patient from behind to avoid actions that may be misinterpreted and that may trigger reexperience of the traumatic event.
- Explore with patient strategies to reduce the traumatic response, such as having a support person call patient on a regular basis and using stress-reducing techniques when experiencing increased fear and anxiety, to strengthen coping skills and foster a sense of control.
Teach patient that a post-trauma response may occur immediately or days, weeks, or years after a trauma to alert patient to the risk of post-trauma response.- Help patient increase awareness of people, places, and events that trigger or reduce a post-trauma response to encourage patient to take an active role in treatment.
- Provide opportunities for patient to discuss the trauma periodically, based on patient's needs and willingness to talk to prevent the development of post-trauma response.
- Encourage family members and friends to express their perceptions and feelings about the traumatic event and reactions they see in patient to aid assessment.
- Provide teaching to family members, friends, and caregivers about the signs and symptoms of post-trauma response and interventions they can use to promote involvement with rather than withdrawal from patient.
Explore uses of appropriate community resources and make referrals according to patient's and family members' needs to ensure continuity of care and decrease patient's isolation.
Suggested NIC Interventions
Coping Enhancement; Hope Instillation; Mood Management; Self-Awareness Enhancement |