The main aim of this study was to investigate the psychological effects of continual exposure to trauma on new recruits to the emergency services. Changes over a three-month period, in which trainee ambulance technicians were continually exposed to trauma, were measured in terms of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress symptomatology, world assumptions, and perceived social support. Ten trainee ambulance technicians (treatment group) and eight ambulance administration staff (untreated control group) completed baseline measures, whilst the trainees were in training. Post-test measures were then completed after the trainees had been operational for one month and then again at three months. After three months of continual exposure to trauma, the trainees also completed a semi-structured questionnaire to provide qualitative insight into the trainees' experiences. The main findings of the study were as follows: Anxiety levels of the trainee ambulance technicians decreased significantly over the three months. Posttraumatic symptomatology levels also decreased significantly in the trainees between preexposure and three month of continual exposure to trauma. The use of positive reinterpretation and growth as a coping response to trauma increased significantly within the group of trainees. No significant differences were found in the measures of the untreated control group, indicating that the findings from the trainees were likely to be attributable to the effects of continual exposure to trauma. These results were discussed in terms of the psychological impact that continual exposure to trauma had on the trainees. The strengths and limitations of the study, along with the clinical implications, and recommendations for future research were also presented.

The aim of the study was to describe the perceptions of critical care nurses concerning family witnessed resuscitation, presenting arguments for or against the practice thereof. A quantitative, descriptive and exploratory approach was used. For the study, a non- probability convenience sample of 100 critical care nurses from five critical care units were used. A combined open-ended and closed-ended questionnaire was used. The majority of critical care nurses in the study disapproved of the idea of family witnessed resuscitation. They believed it to be traumatic for relatives, threatening to the resuscitation process and increasing litigation. Although the dominant feeling was one of disapproval, some critical care nurses felt that family witnessed resuscitation was beneficial to relatives. Recommendations for future practice included incorporation of educational programmes for critical care nurses concerning family witnessed resuscitation and providing training to deal with the stresses of family witnessed resuscitation. / Health Studies / M.A (Health Studies)

The aim of the study was to describe the perceptions of critical care nurses concerning family witnessed resuscitation, presenting arguments for or against the practice thereof. A quantitative, descriptive and exploratory approach was used. For the study, a non- probability convenience sample of 100 critical care nurses from five critical care units were used. A combined open-ended and closed-ended questionnaire was used. The majority of critical care nurses in the study disapproved of the idea of family witnessed resuscitation. They believed it to be traumatic for relatives, threatening to the resuscitation process and increasing litigation. Although the dominant feeling was one of disapproval, some critical care nurses felt that family witnessed resuscitation was beneficial to relatives. Recommendations for future practice included incorporation of educational programmes for critical care nurses concerning family witnessed resuscitation and providing training to deal with the stresses of family witnessed resuscitation. / Health Studies / M.A (Health Studies)