What Nurses Know ... PTSD

An estimated 7.8 percent of all Americans experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their lives. PTSD can affect anyone — from war veterans and abuse victims to persons directly or indirectly traumatized by other catastrophes. What Nurses Know . . . PTSD provides a holistic overview of PTSD. It does not provide a treatment regime; rather it helps individuals with PTSD and their families to recognize the problem and know how and where to get assistance. The book covers all the treatments available today, examines the causes of the PTSD, and describes the symptoms and the effects of PTSD on individuals with the condition and their families. It also looks at associated problems such as substance abuse, explains what makes PTSD different in children and adolescents, and shows how to manage stress, talk to health care providers, and get help from both traditional and nontraditional sources.

Mary E. Muscari, Ph.D., R.N. is an Associate Professor at the Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton, NY. In addition to her research and teaching, Dr. Muscari has published more than 60 professional articles, several professional book chapters, and authored numerous newspaper and consumer articles. She is the author of several books including Pediatric Nursing: Lippincott's Review Series, Let Kids be Kids, Not My Kid: 21 Steps to Raising a Non-Violent Child, the forthcoming Quick Reference Guide to Child and Adolescent Forensics and Quick Reference Guide to Adult and Older Forensics. Dr. Muscari was the recipient of the New York Chapter of the Society of Pediatric Nurses 2009 Advocating for Kids Award.