Feature Story: Studying stress in a simulated post-crisis scene

Abstract

An innovative research approach at the University of Regina may lead to better support for people exposed to high stress, such as nurses, first responders and other public safety personnel. Nursing students recently took part in a simulated post-crisis scene. Nurses regularly use simulations as part of their training and education, because “describing how to perform tasks can be very different than showing and practicing the same tasks,” says one of the researchers, Dr. Nick Carleton, a psychology professor. One of his research areas is post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.