J Pediatr Nurs. 2026 Jun 8;90:87-98. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2026.05.040. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
AIMS: Quantify post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence rates in pediatric nurses; identify the strength, direction, and predictive relationship between PTSD and psychological capital (PsyCap), psychological safety, coworker support, and supervisor support; and explore nurses’ perceptions and coping strategies for dealing with work-related trauma.
DESIGN: A convergent mixed-methods cross-sectional, correlational-predictive online research study design utilizing the Conservation of Resources theoretical framework.
METHODS: Convenience sample of pediatric nurses working in direct patient care in the United States.
INSTRUMENTS: Post-Traumatic Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), Psychological Safety tool, Coworker Support Scale (CSS), and Supervisor Support Scale (SSS). Qualitative questions were content analyzed. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including hierarchical regression models, were used.
RESULTS: One-hundred and seventy-one participants were included in the analysis; 56.7% met the cut-point for full PTSD criteria. PTSD symptoms were inversely related to nurses’ Psychological Capital and PsyCap scores. Additionally, Psychological Safety and PsyCap were independent predictors of PTSD when entered in the hierarchical regression analysis model. A joint display table was developed to integrate qualitative and quantitative findings.
CONCLUSION: PTSD is a concern for direct-care pediatric nurses. Results from the hierarchical regression analysis lend important insight into workforce factors (Psychological Safety) and intrapersonal qualities (PsyCap) affecting PTSD symptomology in pediatric nurses. Qualitative comments support the importance of coworker, leader, and organizational support for individuals. Implication to Practice This study highlights potential predictive and protective intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organizational factors on pediatric nurses’ PTSD symptomology.
PMID:42258970 | DOI:10.1016/j.pedn.2026.05.040
