Discovering New Life after the ICU: Post-Traumatic Growth for Critical Care Survivors

Activity Summary

This session explores how the traumatic intensive care unit (ICU) experience can lead to post-traumatic stress, but also opportunities for post-traumatic growth (PTG) and finding new meaning and purpose in life. It defines the concept of PTG as it applies to ICU patients, and explores strategies for nurses to identify patients at risk of poor mental health outcomes as well as those with potential for PTG. The discussion outlines practices nurses can implement both during and after hospitalization to facilitate PTG and support ICU survivors in finding new meaning and purpose.

Objectives

Define post-traumatic growth and how it applies to ICU patients.
Identify predictors of posttraumatic growth and how PTG relates to and is different from PTSD.
Describe what nurses can do both during and after hospitalization to facilitate posttraumatic growth.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Criteria for Awarding Contact Hours

Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for {contactHours} contact hours.

Disclosures

The Nurse Planner has determined that no individuals with the ability to control content of this activity have relevant relationships with ineligible companies.

Activities with pharmacotherapeutic credit are to assist the APRN in fulfilling their education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.