Episode 25: The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Forgiveness on Nurses

In this Bell Work Talk Dr. Troy discusses the findings from a study fulfilling requirements for her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Nursing. Nurses are required to utilize trauma- informed practices, often without mitigating their childhood trauma. Forgiveness is a mediator of trauma and does not require benevolence toward the transgressor rather includes release of self from fault and shame. Forgiveness does not imply that justice will not be pursued, only that the motivation is not vengeful. The impact of abuses (ACEs) on nurses’ ability to care, was measured by the construct of compassion satisfaction (CS). Demographics in this study predicted forgiveness and (CS). This study evaluated ACEs in nurses and their impact on choice of clinical practice, forgiveness ability and (CS). From a convenience sample of 255 nurses, results indicated the participants had four or more ACEs, (n = 60) 24%, which is double the 12.1% found in the original ACE study. Nurses with high ACEs reported less self-forgiveness. Race predicted self-forgiveness. Correlations were found between forgiveness and (CS). The ACE category of participants statistically significantly correlated to their work specialty. Pointing to resilience, despite multiple childhood adversities, participants achieved academically. Forgiveness has implications for nursing education, practice, and policy. Nursing must take the lead in caring for our own with the same enthusiasm shown to others. Dr. Troy has been a nurse for 44 years. Graduating with a BSN from Rutgers University she has been a life-long student, clinician, and educator. Presently she has the privilege of working daily with the bravest children in Louisiana, as they present to the CARE Center of Children’s Hospital. In her role as a forensic pediatric nurse practitioner , Dr. Troy obtains incident histories from children due to concerns for all forms of maltreatment. Often, she is trusted with the first disclosure from the non-offending parents, as they outcry about previously unspoken