Citation

Sekhon B. Int. J. Nurs. Knowl. 2018; 29(3): 176-183.

Affiliation

Bikram Sekhon, is a graduate student in the Masters of Nursing thesis-based program at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/2047-3095.12177

PMID

28544554

Abstract

PURPOSE: Mental health nursing is not the same as psychiatry, so it is important for nurses to have an understanding of the defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, model cases, and empirical referents of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

METHOD: Walker and Avant's (2005) method is used to guide this concept analysis of PTSD.

FINDINGS: Four attributes arise from this concept analysis, which are addressed through both the DSM-IV and DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, /): triggering event or events, re-experiencing, fear, and helplessness. Though a majority of the defining attributes are addressed through both versions of the DSM, a key fifth attribute arises through this concept analysis: a disruption of meaning.

CONCLUSIONS: A better understanding of PTSD from a nursing perspective will help inform appropriate nursing interventions and prevention strategies, while expanding the knowledge synthesis and contribution of the nursing profession. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: A model case, borderline case, and contrary case of PTSD are provided.

DISCUSSION of the importance of a lack or loss of meaning in PTSD is included, along with exploration of transformative learning theory to inform clinical practice for nurses addressing a disruption of meaning.

© 2017 NANDA International, Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

PTSD; concept analysis; meaning; nursing practice; posttraumatic stress disorder; transformative learning