‘An Exploration of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Emergency Nurses following
Hurricane Katrina’

The research identifies if the nurses perceived satisfaction with measures administrators took to provide Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). To combat burnout, absenteeism, emotional difficulties, and health problems in nurses, administration must offer adequate crisis management for those affected by a traumatic event in the workplace. Data were captured through a cross-sectional research design using self-reporting questionnaires.

Critical Incident Stress Management Team: Crisis Awareness & Intervention for Public
Safety Professionals

In any event, the impact on those left behind can be devastating and sometimes overwhelming. That’s where a Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISM) comes in. Even though formal CISM programs have been around for years (my team just marked their 23rd anniversary), field personnel are still sometimes reluctant to participate in defusing or debriefings.

CISM in a Nutshell - For those that may not have any experience with CISM, it’s a group of individuals trained to support public safety personnel who have been involved in critical incidents and assist them in mitigating long-term effects of stress. It’s facilitated by a mental health professional and is successful mainly due to its peer-support system.