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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is
increasingly prevalent in the nursing profession.
As PTSD is cumulative and manifests over
time, many nurses are not able to recognize
the signs of PTSD triggers as these triggers
are subjectively based on each individual’s
response to trauma. Furthermore, common
elements to the nursing profession, such
as critical incident stress, emotional labour
and occupational burnout, are important to
recognize as key contributors to PTSD as they
cause an increase to nurses’ susceptibility
and exposure to PTSD development. The
intent of this report is to provide a humanistic
perspective towards recognizing the mental
health effects nurses experience as a result of
their exposure to traumatic and critical incidents
encountered on a daily basis. An analysis on
the diagnostic criteria of PTSD combined
with an accumulation of PTSD research serve
as the integral components of this report to
form the basis to conclude that PTSD is an
occupational illness directly related to the work
environment of nurses. The legislative scan
assesses viable opportunities for Manitoba to
consider in adopting presumptive legislation to
not only recognize PTSD as an illness, but an
occupational hazard in the nursing profession.
A key section of this report reflects upon the
qualitative data the Manitoba Nurses Union
(MNU) received through its PTSD focus groups
and membership survey in which it emphasizes
the deep-rooted effects PTSD has on Manitoba’s
nursing workforce. This data helps formulate
the recommendation that management needs
to recognize its responsibility to improve the
working conditions for nurses, and provide more
access to improved supports.