The American Nurses Foundation Launches Web-based
PTSD Toolkit for Registered Nurses
The Amercian Nurses Foundation’s PTSD Toolkit was highlighted in a White House fact sheet, issued to accompany President Obama’s address to the American Legion’s 96th convention, as an innovative way to address veterans’ mental health.
As you know, in most instances, nurses represent the first point of contact for patients and their families when they seek care, making them uniquely positioned to ask questions and assess the needs for men and women who may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
As part of the Joining Forces campaign, the American Nurses Foundation launched an innovative, web-based PTSD Toolkit for registered nurses – all 3.1 million of them. The toolkit was developed by a team of technology and nursing innovators under the leadership of Nancy Hanrahan, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. It provides easy-to-access information and a simulation based on gaming techniques on how to identify, assess and refer veterans suffering from PTSD.
The power behind the PTSD Toolkit is the largest, most trusted group of health care professionals – nurses. The American Nurses Foundation commits to disseminating the Nurses PTSD Toolkit so that it gets into the hands of nurses who are caring for people in every community, every day in order to help service members, veterans and their families.
To learn more visit www.nurseptsdtoolkit.org
This is an example of how ANA and ANF have worked together to help people through the power of nursing.
ANF Chair Joyce J. Fitzpatrick
P. S. Nurses answer the call to action — The Foundation’s PTSD Toolkit was the first item mentioned in the White House Fact Sheet after the president’s executive actions. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nursing were also mentioned as a part of the Joining Forces initiative.