Date
2-28-2025
Department
School of Nursing
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Chair
Rachel Joseph
Keywords
Trauma informed care, trauma-informed concepts, psychological trauma and patients' health and health outcomes
Disciplines
Nursing | Psychiatry and Psychology
Recommended Citation
Cudjoe, Kim G., "Building Capacity for Trauma-Informed Care: Enhancing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Trauma-Informed Care Among Nurses" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6544.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6544
Abstract
Exposure to trauma is a global and pervasive phenomenon that is known to have negative consequences on the health, health outcomes, and well-being of individuals and at-risk populations to include Veterans. The implementation of trauma-informed care concepts and principles in the delivery of healthcare services among all staff and across the span of healthcare allows healthcare professionals to realize the impact of trauma on individuals, to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma, to respond to trauma through improved practices, procedures, and policies; and to prevent re-traumatization while receiving care. The purpose of this evidence-based project is to develop and implement an educational intervention on basic trauma-informed care for nurses to increase their knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and practice providing trauma-informed care to Veterans. This project provides a literature review to support the evidence of the positive outcomes of trauma-informed approach to care which uses the theory of planned change by Kurt Lewin as the theoretical framework. The project used the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service’s (SAMSHA’s) concepts and principles to develop the educational training. A pre and post survey measured the changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices among nurses at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the mid-southern area of the United States. A total of 27 nurses completed the survey. Nurses’ knowledge increased after the educational training with the one-tailed p-value of 0.014. Confidence levels were statistically significant with the two-tailed p-value of 0.027. There were no significant changes in the nurses’ attitudes and practice. Lack of organizational awareness was the most common identified barrier among nurses.
