Investigation of secondary traumatic stress level and factors associated with post-traumatic growth in nurses

This study was carried out as a descriptive and relationship seeker in order to examine the secondary traumatic stress level of nurses and their individual and professional characteristics related to post-traumatic growth. 314 nurses who were actively working between November 2021 and June 2022 participated in the study. The data of the study were collected electronically with the 'Individual data collection form', 'Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS)' and 'Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI)'.. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to analyze the normality of the scores obtained from a continuous variable with the statistical method. The analysis of the data was carried out by using Independent Sample t-Test and ANOVA (Variance) test were used the analyze difference between groups, Tukey test were used in comparisons, Pearson correlation and Multiple Linear Regression analysis as well as descriptive statistical methods (number, percentage, mean, median, standard deviation, etc.). In this study group, the mean STSS score was found as 42.98±13.41 and the mean PTGI score was found as 59.73±20.46. It was determined that female nurses' arousal subscale scores (13.55±4.65) were statistically significantly higher than male nurses' scores (12.14±4.12) (p<0.05). It has been determined that the presence of a traumatic experience in the last year, a negativity caused by the patient who was given care in the last month, and the status of receiving psychological support at the moment are independent factors that increase the STS level of the nurses. It has been determined that the duration of professional experience, the presence of a traumatic experience in the last year, the status of receiving psychological support at the moment and the stress level of involuntary exposure are independent factors that predictive the PTG level of nurses. It was observed that the PTG total score and sub-dimension scores had a weak positive relationship with the STS involuntary exposure score. In addition, it was determined that the level of secondary traumatic stress did not have a statistically significant relationship with post-traumatic growth.