Exploring secondary traumatic stress in mental health nurses working in Kigali, Rwanda

Abstract

A unique feature of mental health nurses' work involves exposure to clients' descriptions of and reactions to trauma, and these experiences may indirectly cause distress to the nurse. This phenomenon has been termed "secondary traumatic stress" and is the focus of the study. The aim of the study was to explore secondary traumatic stress experienced by nurses working in mental health services in Kigali, Rwanda. A quantitative study was conducted at Ndera Psychiatric Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda, using a convenience sample of 50 nurses who provided mental health care to trauma survivors and mentally ill patients. A questionnaire was compiled consisting of the Trauma Attachment Belief Scale (TABS) and several open ended questions pertaining to the respondents' current work situations and psychosocial support systems. The majority of respondents' scores were situated between T-scores of 60 and 80, which are considered to indicate very high or extremely high risks. With regard to other-safety, 98.0% (n=49) of the respondents scored 80 or above which, again, is extremely high and may indicate a strong disruption in these areas. Supportive supervision, with sustained open communication channels, should be provided to nurses providing mental health services in Rwanda. The majority of respondents' TABS scores were situated between T-scores of 60 and 80, which are considered to indicate very high or extremely high risk.