When individuals experience emotional stress due to hearing about the trauma of others or witnessing trauma of someone else.
Published in Chapter:
Pediatric Healthcare Providers: Unique Challenges and Strategies to Improve Wellness
Janelle M. Mentrikoski (Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA & Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Morgantown, USA), Claire Baniak (Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA & Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA), Stephany Lora (Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA & Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Morgantown, USA), Jennifer Ludrosky (Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA & Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Morgantown, USA), and Jonathan G. Perle (Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, USA & Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Morgantown, USA)
Copyright: © 2022
|Pages: 24
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-8813-0.ch004
Abstract
Healthcare providers are at risk for stress-related illness (e.g., burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress) due to the nature of their jobs. Healthcare providers who work in pediatrics face unique challenges compared to those who work in adult healthcare. This chapter reviews three common challenges pediatric healthcare providers face, including working with children who may die or may be facing death, managing difficult family dynamics, and responding to cases of suspected child abuse and neglect. In addition, pediatric providers face additional challenges during public health crises (e.g., natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic), including specific challenges related to telehealth, navigating a lack of services and mental health programs and managing adverse childhood events. Several recommendations are made throughout this chapter to assist pediatric providers with these challenges.