INTRODUCTION: The present study investigated acute stress and coping among rural nurses who work with transfer trauma patients. METHODS: Nineteen rural nurses ages 34 to 53 years participated in 4 focus groups. Each group was asked to identify a specific stressful situation involving transfer of trauma/accident patients and to share their experience of the situation. RESULTS: Stressful situations encountered included system problems (EG, lack of resources; time pressures), lack of communication, visual impact, and professional discord. Coping responses included efforts to alter the problem (problem-focused coping) and efforts to control emotions (emotion-focused coping). Social support coping was identified as the most helpful way of coping with trauma. DISCUSSION: Overall the findings suggest that rural nurses face unique stressors not identified in the nursing literature, which most often reflects urban settings.
INTRODUCTION: The present study investigated acute stress and coping among rural nurses who work with transfer traumapatients. METHODS: Nineteen rural nurses ages 34 to 53 years participated in 4 focus groups. Each group was asked to identify a specific stressful situation involving transfer of trauma/accidentpatients and to share their experience of the situation. RESULTS: Stressful situations encountered included system problems (EG, lack of resources; time pressures), lack of communication, visual impact, and professional discord. Coping responses included efforts to alter the problem (problem-focused coping) and efforts to control emotions (emotion-focused coping). Social support coping was identified as the most helpful way of coping with trauma. DISCUSSION: Overall the findings suggest that rural nurses face unique stressors not identified in the nursing literature, which most often reflects urban settings.