Assessment Task 1: Analysis of Trauma-Informed Care in Healthcare

This assignment presents a case study analysis focused on trauma-informed care within a healthcare setting, specifically addressing a 42-year-old woman, Gemma, seeking care in the Emergency Department following a fall. The analysis emphasizes the significance of creating a safe and confidential environment for patients, particularly those with histories of trauma and substance abuse. The paper explores the importance of effective communication, environmental considerations, and the use of self in building therapeutic relationships. It highlights the connection between childhood trauma and substance use, referencing relevant research. The analysis concludes by underscoring the critical role of nurses and social workers in applying their social and emotional intelligence to achieve positive outcomes in patient care and build trust. The assignment also references the importance of integrating both personal and technical knowledge.

Running head: ASSESSMENT TASK 1
ASSESSMENT TASK 1
Emma Smith
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
Over the last decade, the understanding of the effect of trauma on individuals has grown
considerably, and this has contributed to an emphasis on practicing trauma informed care when
caring for clients who use alcohol and other drugs. While caring for such clients or patients,
nurses must apply important qualities and skills such as maintaining effective communication,
providing a suitable environment, providing client privacy, and applying the use of self in order
to demonstrate empathy and compassion whenbuilding a therapeutic relationship. Below is case
study analysis of 42 year- old women, Gemma, who is a seeking care following a fall at her
house.
Discussion:
As noted in the case study Gemma, feels unsafe to stay at her own house due to domestic
violence. Her coping strategies are to use alcohol and benzodiazapine and on a daily basis. She
presented to the Emergency Department with a fractured arm following a fall after alcohol
consumption. During the initial screening, she was found hesitant to disclose her information and
share her story with the nurse in an open space since she was feeling a lack of confidentiality.
Thus, the triage nurse immediately took action and closed the screening and moved her to a
private cubical. Client’s confidentially is the first and foremost thing that nurses need to take into
account in order to build trust and enable information should be disclosed., Harms (2015)
recommends making the client feel as secure as comfortable as possible while interacting with
them and delivering them care. In order to make them feel and secure, it is essential to provide an
environment where they will feel positive and comfortable. Environmental factors have a major
impact in the care provision of patients or clients. The impacts on both patients and staff are

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observed in environmental conditions such as a noisy or uncomfortable environment, light,
chemical pollutants, temperature, humidity and aesthetics (Applebaum et al. 2010). Other
environmental considerations such as optimal lighting, daytime room, the opportunity to keep the
door open and enabling space between the client and the nurse will ensure the client that he / she
feels safe and comfortable. In settings like the emergency department, these may present
difficulties with noise, overlapping demands, time limitations, poor skills and a lack of
knowledge on substance and alcohol issues that will hinder the care process. Indicators that
signify client engagement, though, may include an ability to address and draw on transparent and
direct dialogue when open-ended questions are asked.
Since, the patient, upon drug and alcohol assessment, highlighted her use of alcohol and
thus, a referral was made to the drug and alcohol service. Evidence suggests the relationship
between childhood trauma experience and drug usage is significant. Lawson et al. (2013) studied
the emotional history of persons who were drug addicted and reported that at least 1 adverse
incident happened for 96,5 percent of people with alcohol and drug abuse in their lives.
Kevorkian et al. (2015) also observed that childhood trauma experience was linked to increased
chances of lifelong consumption of cannabis in a longitudinal sample of US adults. There is
growing evidence that the association between children's experience and potential psychological
conditions may be affected by subsequent trauma experience (Herzog and Schmahl 2018).
The utilization of the self is an essential factor for improving the client-service worker
therapeutic partnership. It is important for the creation of goals, behaviour and boundaries that
allow health professionals to establish a trustworthy and transparent relationship and make
progress possible. Discriminatory or unequal use of self is fundamental for all the relations. It is
easier to communicate with mates than with unfamiliar or just arriving people. Most people have

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multiple mates, experiences and qualities very varied. People become wary and self-censored to
the unknown individual before a stronger link is formed. The way humans incorporate their
moral and social awareness in interactions with others is another way to think about this 'use of
self.' They would also extend this and focus on the moral and practical application of self-
thinking in relation and their social service experience. In the profession, the intent, limitations
and behaviour of one's own relationships may be quite different. It's difficult to push into a sense
of ethical self-use. In the world of public service, this is a controversial topic. It feels like giving
away essential personal attributes to become someone else for many individuals. That is not the
purpose of utilizing self properly. This definition of self-use underlines the decisions about
actions, goals and responses have been taken. Therefore, the phrase 'use of self' may apply to the
active usage of our own personal 'material' as the subject in the discussion in terms of thoughts,
perceptions and experiences. Or it may apply to the broader awareness of how they are integral
to the social and client conversations and can determine whether they can behave in any
situation. The 'use of self' principle acknowledges that both the procedure and the outcomes of
each experience have a vital impact on the social worker (Harms 2016).
The main characteristics of self-use should involve good communication and leadership
capacity, sensitivity and constructive listening without judgment or prejudice (Harms 2015). The
health professional has to objectively focus on his / her relational capabilities both in the verbal
manner and also through non-verbal communication. The aim is to build a partnership with the
client that allows it easy to respect and to understand the role through its experiences.
Conclusion
While working in care settings with the trauma patients or while communicating with
them, nurses or social workers must focus on the ‘use of self ‘to bring about a desired outcome.

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They must apply their social and emotional intelligence while interacting with someone. As
Social laws apply in all communication interactions and thus nurses must take into account of the
same and communicate with the patients with traumatic histories. Integrating both personal and
technical knowledge is what it's all like being a social worker. Decisions are taken on a regular
basis as to how they communicate with clients and co-workers. Any of the statements produced
by the perfect social worker are rational, scientific, analytical and competent experts. Others
stress the importance of closeness, versatility and staying in contact. This notion of use of self
highlights that judgments are made of actions, goals and responses. The word 'use of self' may
also apply to the direct usage of one's own specific 'material' in terms of thoughts, views and
perceptions, as the subject of communication. The 'use of self' principle acknowledges that the
social worker has a vital impact on the method and nature of every relationship. The use of self is
increasing over time. It could be about getting acquainted with an individual and progressing
towards a more developed, trusting way of relation. As the relationship progresses, various
approaches are being utilized to begin the process of change and support. However, a problem
exists in that, historically, the focus on genuine human intersubjectivity has rarely been as firmly
advocated, leaving a social worker curious about some of the more complex modes of physical
contact that typically define human relationships.

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References
Applebaum, D., Fowler, S., Fiedler, N., Osinubi, O. and Robson, M., 2010. The impact of
environmental factors on nursing stress, job satisfaction, and turnover intention. The Journal of
nursing administration, 40, p.323.
Bath, H 2008, `The three pillars of trauma- informed care~, Reclaiming children and youth, Vol.
17.
Harms, L 2015, Working with people: communication skills for reflective practice, 2nd edition.
Edn, Oxford University Press.
Herzog, J.I. and Schmahl, C., 2018. Adverse childhood experiences and the consequences on
neurobiological, psychosocial, and somatic conditions across the lifespan. Frontiers in
psychiatry, 9, p.420.
Kevorkian, S., Bonn-Miller, M.O., Belendiuk, K., Carney, D.M., Roberson-Nay, R. and Berenz,
E.C., 2015. Associations among trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, cannabis use, and
cannabis use disorder in a nationally representative epidemiologic sample. Psychology of
Addictive Behaviors, 29(3), p.633.
Lawson, K.M., Back, S.E., Hartwell, K.J., Maria, M.M.S. and Brady, K.T., 2013. A comparison
of trauma profiles among individuals with prescription opioid, nicotine, or cocaine
dependence. The American journal on addictions, 22(2), pp.127-131.
Mandavia, A., Robinson, G.G., Bradley, B., Ressler, K.J. and Powers, A., 2016. Exposure to
childhood abuse and later substance use: Indirect effects of emotion dysregulation and exposure
to trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 29(5), pp.422-429.