Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care Education

Experiences of trauma, including adverse childhood experiences, exposure to gender-based violence, and experiences of structural violence, have long-term effects on an individual’s social well-being, behaviours, and mental and physical health. Trauma- and violence-informed care (TVIC) can support public health nurses and other professionals working with individuals and families to more safely, equitably, and effectively interact with those who have experienced, or who are still experiencing trauma and violence.

The four inter-related TVIC principles are:

  1. Understand trauma, violence and its impacts on people’s lives and behaviours
  2. Create emotionally and physically safe environments for all clients and providers
  3. Foster opportunities for choice, collaboration, and connection
  4. Use a strengths-based and capacity-building approach to support clients.

Examples of how these principles can be applied at both organizational and individual levels of care are summarized in the Principles of Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care (infographic) developed by the Gender, Trauma, & Violence Knowledge Incubator @ Western

Professional Development & Ongoing Education

Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care (TVIC) for Public Health Nurse Home Visiting and Outreach

This e-learning module, developed by PHN-PREP in collaboration with the Gender, Trauma & Violence Incubator at Western University, gives practical guidance on how to provide care in a trauma-and violence-informed way. Using illustrative case studies, grounded in home visiting practice, strategies for applying the TVIC principles throughout the nursing process, including complex assessments and interventions, are shared. This curriculum is geared toward public health nurses and others conducting home visits with pregnant individuals or families with young children. It also supports leaders in developing policies and protocols to embed TVIC principles throughout their work.

Public health nurses and other home visitors who complete this e-learning course will be able to:

  • Provide emotionally, physically, culturally safe, competent, and high-quality care as part of their core nursing process, including assessment and care planning.
  • Understand and apply the core elements of trauma- and violence-informed care, including recognizing the effects of trauma among clients and responding appropriately.
  • Demonstrate non-judgmental, anti-discriminatory, and non-stigmatizing attitudes as a fundamental aspect of their professional roles.

The curriculum has 6 sections, with embedded videos, case-based activities, a downloadable Notebook for reflection and links to key take-aways, and interactive quizzes throughout. After finishing section 6, successfully completing a brief assessment will provide a Certificate of Completion.

How it works…

  • We recommend completion first of the TVIC Foundations Curriculum (FREE). To register for TVIC Foundations, click here. However, it is not necessary to complete the TVIC Foundations course before the TVIC for Public Health Nurse Home Visiting and Outreach course.
  • Register HERE for the TVIC for Public Health Nurse Home Visiting and Outreach Curriculum (FREE).
  • Complete the curriculum in 4-6 non-consecutive hours of self-directed, online participation.
  • You choose how much to complete, when, and how. The only requirements are linked to the Certificate of Completion, which is generated by successfully completing the end of module assessment. All other quizzes and knowledge checks are optional.
  • In undertaking this education, you join an active community of public health professionals who share a desire to work effectively, respectfully, and collaboratively with those individuals, families, and communities they serve.

REGISTER for TVIC Public Health Nurse Home Visiting & Outreach Curriculum

Register Now

This work has been prepared with support from the Province of Ontario. The work was also supported in part by Nadine Wathen’s SSHRC Canada Research Chair and through contributions from the McMaster University School of Nursing and the Public Health Nursing Practice, Research, & Education Program.

 

Trauma-and Violence-Informed Approaches to Nursing Education

Trauma-and violence-informed approaches to nursing education include the development and implementation of policies and practices that focus on preventing harm by creating safe environments for learners (and faculty, staff, and preceptors) who have experienced (and who may still be experiencing) violence and trauma. This approach to nursing education requires accountability at the organizational and individual levels.

This practice resource “Trauma-and Violence-Informed Approaches to Nursing Education” describes how experiences of trauma and violence can impact students’ health and capacity to learn. Information is provided on the types of behaviours or responses educators or preceptors might observe in their learners that reflect a traumatic stress response, expressed when learners might be experiencing a lack of safety in the learning environment. Guided by the four principles of trauma-and violence-informed care, organizational and individual-level strategies to create environments where individuals are valued and emotional and physical safety are prioritized are then outlined.