Trauma encompasses a large range of events that may occur in any person’s life at any age. These events can have catastrophic effects on an individual’s overall well-being. Psychological hardships are likely to occur, as well as environmental. For instance, many things could trigger a person’s memory of their traumatic event, whether it be a tangible object, or being asked to describe something that a person had experienced. A traumatic event could also heavily impact an individual’s spiritual well-being, by dimming their will to stay involved with certain aspects of life, or by dimming their enthusiasm to do things that once excited them. That being said, there are also social determinants that come into play after someone has experienced a traumatic event. Social situations in general may be avoided in fear that a person with trauma will have to discuss the topic, or social situations that could have lead to a traumatic event may be avoided, in fear that the event will reoccur. It is important that individuals who have fallen victim to trauma are supported and have a safe place to talk about what happened to them, if and when they are ready.

In many cases, trauma occurs in the form of an adverse childhood experience. This may include abuse, neglect, or harassment by any individual in a child’s life. These experiences, regardless of severity, are likely to cause long-term effects on an individual’s life. This may be due to ineffective coping mechanisms later on in life, such as substance abuse. It is important to intervene if this becomes evident, as this could lead to a plethora of other issues, and possibly early death. If an adverse childhood event is not known about, and the child grows up to think this event is normal, abuse or neglect may be carried through generations. This is why. it. Is important to educate individuals about potential ACEs, and how to prevent them.

In nursing and other health professions, there are principles that should be considered when providing trauma-informed care. The use of these guidelines will allow the patient to feel safe and comfortable when talking about a traumatic experience. It will help the nurse to establish a trusting environment for the patient, which will allow for optimal conversation and knowledge about how, as the nurse, you can help this individual. I plan to pay special attention to these principles in my own nursing practice, as well. I do believe that patient’s who have experienced trauma need to feel supported and comforted, whether they are willing to share information to assist with the treatment process or not.