Since the onset of the pandemic, nurses have been repeatedly exposed to their patients’ COVID-19-related traumatic experiences. Therefore, they are at high risk for Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS), the stress syndrome resulting from helping others who are suffering. Positive psychological outcomes following this vicarious exposure are also likely. Vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG) refers to the positive changes from working with patients who themselves have coped with traumatic experiences.

This study aims to examine STS and VPTG among 429 nurses during three lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece.

A repeated cross-sectional survey with a convenience and snowball sampling procedure was conducted. The Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS), the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Brief Cope (BC) were used to measure STS, VPTG, resilience, and coping strategies, respectively.

Nurses in Greece demonstrated high levels of STS at the first lockdown, significantly lower in the second one, which raised again -but not significantly- in the third lockdown. Resilience significantly decreased, whereas VPTG significantly increased across the three lockdowns. Following the escalation of the pandemic nurses in general used significantly more adaptive and less maladaptive coping strategies to deal with the crisis.

Further research is needed to clarify the longitudinal course of the negative and positive psychological effects of the pandemic on healthcare staff. Conclusions can guide the development of interventions to safeguard nurses from the deleterious impacts of the COVID-19 and support them in their process of growth.

No significant relationships.

The provision of end-of-life (EOL) care has complex effects on both the professional and personal well-being of medical health personnel (MHP). Previous studies have mostly focused on negative or positive influences as mutually exclusive effects. This study offers a new conceptualization by applying a dialectical lens, looking at secondary traumatic stress (STS) and post-traumatic growth (PTG) as dual possible coexisting phenomena. The creation of four theoretically possible profiles, based on the combinations of high or low levels in each dimension, offers a practical translation of this idea toward intervention development.

Data were collected at a large tertiary pediatric medical center (n = 1,123) aiming at assessing all personnel. Research methods included collecting demographic data and using validated scales to assess STS, PTG, burnout, compassion satisfaction, and both personal and professional social support.

We classified four response profiles according to the STS and PTG levels: (1) Dialectical-impact, high STS/high PTG, (2) Growth-dominant, high PTG/low STS, (3) Stress-dominant, high STS/low PTG, and (4) Limited-impact, low STS/low PTG. The four profiles differed based on profession, but not other demographics. Physicians were represented significantly higher in the Stress-dominant profile; nurses were highly represented in the Dialectical-impact profile. A significant difference was found when adding reported EOL care as a distinct factor with a higher relative proportion of the “dialectical” response among those reporting providing EOL care.

Findings from this study point toward the recognition and understanding of the complexity resulting from the provision of EOL care. A more complex profile classification, including the dialectical profile, may reflect a broader tendency to ways that MHP are affected by their work. Introducing “dialectical thinking” can lead to more personalized and precise intervention planning for MHP. Tailored interventions promoting personal and professional well-being, based on individual profiles, can contribute to more effective interventions and better resource utilization.

The emotional aspects of traumatic events often are ignored for professionals involved in disaster interventions immediately with victims of emotional trauma. There is a growing body of theoretical and empirical literature that recognizes that engaging in therapeutic work with trauma survivors can and does impact the professionals involved. Compassion fatigue is the latest in an evolving concept that is known in the field of traumatology as secondary traumatic stress. Most often, this phenomenon is associated with caring for others in emotional or physical pain.

In a literature review, Beaton and Murphy (1995) assert that emergency/first responders and crisis workers absorb the traumatic stress of those they help. By doing so, they are at-risk for compassion fatigue. Among the negative consequences that often are not linked to their work, include substance abuse and relationship conflicts. Although the body of literature exploring the prevalence of compassion fatigue continues to grow, the lack of research to support the underlying theory of the concept in relation to measurement is cause for alarm.

This presentation will explore a theoretical model that accounts for and predicts the emergence of compassion stress and compassion fatigue among professionals working with traumatized people as well as explicate the principals associated with accurate diagnosis,assessment, research, treatment, and prevention of compassion fatigue.