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Project ReNew
Enter the world of Project ReNew, a podcast designed for anyone on the frontlines of healthcare, especially our dedicated nurses.
Within these audio waves, we delve into a tapestry of vital topics, exploring post-traumatic stress, trauma, anxiety, insomnia, and the far-reaching impact of the pandemic on those who stand at the forefront of care.
Project ReNew is more than just a podcast; it's a shared journey, a place where you'll discover that your experiences resonate with a community of like-minded individuals who understand the challenges you face.
As you tune in to our podcast, you embark on a voyage of self-restoration, revitalization, and renewal, collectively charting a course toward healing and self-discovery.
Mark your calendars for February 10, 2023, when our inaugural podcast episodes and our dedicated website will be unveiled.
Join us as we navigate the path to rejuvenation and healing, hand in hand with frontline healthcare warriors like yourself.
Project ReNew
Episode 14: Your Road to Recovery: PTSD Trauma in Nursing
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Are you a nurse who suffers from anxiety or PTSD but lacks time to address it?
In this episode of the ReNew podcast, you'll learn how PTSD affects nurses and why it's critical to prioritize your mental health.
You'll also learn about the options for managing PTSD and continuing to nurse, such as psychological therapy and medicines.
If you're afraid to get help, consider this: if not now, when? Please don't put off getting the care you require until it's too late.
Now is the time to begin your journey to recovery.
Press play, and let's walk this journey together!
Project ReNew
These are not just stories.
They are anchors.
Written in the after,
after the shift,
after the silence,
after the moment you wondered if you could still keep going.
This space isn’t loud.
It doesn’t shout advice.
But if you let it,
it might steady something in you.
A small pull toward the part of you
that still believes in why you began.
Not because it’s easy.
Because it’s yours.
Intro
To say it’s been a crazy few years would be an understatement. We live in an ever changing world, one constantly challenging people to their very core. It is because of this we aim to create assuredness in an uncertain world. Welcome to the Project ReNew podcast, a show for nurses - and angels looking to help nurses - and anyone in
search of motivation. Let’s bring you and your passion back to where you were when you first started out. Let’s reignite that fire together. This is the Project ReNew Podcast.
Episode 15: Your Road to Recovery: PTSD Trauma in Nursing
The Problem
All too often, the need for nurses to receive mental health treatment has been ignored. Many nurses are experiencing high anxiety and symptoms of PTSD, and feel they don’t have the time or energy to address it, especially with their also anxious colleagues. When you get home after a busy shift, the last thing you want to do is exercise, or speak to a therapist, or do any form of self-care - like taking a bath or calling a friend/family member. Unfortunately, not enough people check in on the nurses in their life, to make sure they are doing okay. Therefore, it becomes vital for nurses to be able to, and recognize the vital signs that their mental health is plummeting or that they are experiencing signs and symptoms of PTSD. The Explanation When fighting COVID-19, nurses are now responding in the same way that our beloved soldiers respond in combat situations. PTSD in nurses affects our healthcare professionals the same way that it affects soldiers in war zones; the fight-or-flight response kicks in, but as soldiers and nurses, there is no running away from the traumatic situation. You are only left with one option: put your patients’ needs ahead of your needs, and work. Well, this ReNew podcast is here to tell you that there are other options; you can look after your mental health and wellbeing, and continue nursing whilst managing your PTSD.
If this PTSD crisis is not resolved soon, then we will have a wave of nurses that are quitting nursing - putting even more pressure on those who remain. We cannot have a healthcare industry without healthcare workers, and rather than push the recruitment drive for new nurses who are unaware of the trauma that lies ahead, we need to focus on retaining our exhausted, overworked nurses by fixing the problems that are making them leave in the first place. A study conducted by the Journal of General Internal Medicine concluded that 20% of nurses voted that they would not still be working as a nurse in 5-10 years.
The Solution
The road to recovery in PTSD can be very difficult to come to terms with; admitting you need help is often a very scary first step.
Even just listening to this podcast is a great first step towards repairing your mental well-being.
Always remember it is never too late to start. The psychologist will need to take a detailed assessment of your symptoms, so it is important you understand what your triggers are, and how they affect you, physiologically.
You should also be aware of how long your symptoms have started - PTSD tends to be diagnosed if the symptoms have been occurring for over 4 weeks in duration. Your doctor may put you on ‘active monitoring’ - where they keep an eye on your triggers and if they improve/worsen in the next few weeks, with a follow-up appointment one month after that. Psychological therapies and medication are often offered together in order to provide a complete therapeutic treatment that will regulate your nervous system and thought processes.
A Question to Consider
If not now, then when? It can be very easy to put off getting a diagnosis for PTSD, but the longer you put it off, the worse your symptoms become. The only way to get treatment for your PTSD is to find help, before it’s too late. Consider what your barriers are to seeking help - is it the stigma? Is it exhaustion, or overwhelm?
Sources For Help and Advice
https://www.shiftnursing.com/articles/a-coaching-approach-to-treating-ptsd-in-nurses
https://hospitalnews.com/path-healing-ptsd/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zylngaPsTC4&ab_channel=OPENPediatrics
https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/ptsd-is-more-common-among-nurses-than-you-may-realize
Outtro
We really hope you enjoyed this episode of the Project ReNew Podcast. Stay connected with us through ProjectReNew.Co. You can also join this discussion on Twitter @ProjectReNewPod, and on Instagram at @ProjectReNewPodcast. If you would like to speak with us, please send us an email through our website. As always, thank you for pushing your mindset and your heart towards a better reality. This concludes the most thought-provoking part of your day. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to stay fully up to date. Until next time, be kind to yourself, and to
each other.
As a fellow nurse, I want to take a moment to express my appreciation for each and every one of our listeners.
As nurses, we are all part of an essential and noble profession, and our dedication and hard work make a real difference in the lives of our patients.
As Brené Brown says, ' Resilience is the ability to move through difficult experiences and to come out on the other side with wisdom and compassion.'
Our podcast is dedicated to exploring resilience from trauma and the pandemic, providing practical advice and reviews of symptoms to help our listeners navigate these challenging times.
It's important to note that the information provided in our podcast is for educational and informational purposes only.
The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician, other qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition.
As a colleague, I encourage you to continue to listen to our podcast, engage with the content, and use it to enhance your nursing practice and further your professional and personal growth."