Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can be experienced after seeing or living through a dangerous or traumatic event. The emotional and physical symptoms of PTSD fall within the below three categories. If you recognize these symptoms in yourself or others, it is important to seek help.

Re-experiencing symptoms (e.g., flashbacks, distressing thoughts, recurring memories or dreams related to the event)
Avoidance symptoms (e.g., staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the experience, avoiding thoughts)
Hyperarousal symptoms (e.g., having difficulty concentrating, feeling irritable, difficulty falling or staying asleep, feeling “on edge” or tense)

CRNAs/Nurse Anesthesiologists and PTSD

PTSD can occur in both personal and professional situations for a variety of events. Nurse anesthetists and residents, like other health care professionals, face workplace situations that can trigger PTSD; military nurse anesthetists in service to our country can have an increased likelihood. Other CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist workplace events that have the potential to cause trauma:  

Adverse medical events/Critical Incidents for coping with an adverse event/perioperative catastrophe
Post-Mission Depression 
Compassion Fatigue 
Litigation Stress Syndrome

Veterans and PTSD

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD is the nation’s leading provider of care for PTSD. Service members and veterans in crisis or those who know a service member or veteran in crisis can call the Military Crisis Line/Veterans Crisis Line for confidential support 24/7: call 800-273-8233, ext. 1; text 838255; or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/get-help-now/chat.

PTSD Resources

Disclaimer

The resources on this page may incorporate or summarize views, guidelines, or recommendations of third parties. Such material is assembled and presented in good faith, but does not necessarily reflect the views of the AANA. Links to third-party websites are inserted for informational purposes and do not constitute endorsement of the material on those sites, or of any associated organization.