"There are a huge array of medical dynamics that people endure, and when they leave a lasting impact, a word that we don't use widely enough is the word 'trauma.' There's an entire category of phenomena in the medical arena that are, in fact, traumatic. One way we know that these experiences are traumatic is that we know that huge portions of people who experience things like cancer do indeed develop problems like [post-traumatic stress disorder]," James C. Jackson, PsyD, research professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS®, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a conversation about understanding medical trauma in oncology.

Music Credit: "Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod

Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0

Earn 0.75 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at courses.ons.org by June 26, 2027. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Learning outcome: Learners will report increased knowledge of medical trauma and its effects on patients with cancer, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

Episode Notes

ONS Voice articles:

Oncology Nursing Forum articles:

Reclaiming Your Life From Medical Trauma by James C. Jackson

To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities.

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Highlights From This Episode

"Many people have a notion about what medical trauma is, but perhaps they lack a definition. I use a definition that is deliberately broad because I think it is better to be inclusive than exclusive. A medical trauma to me is a medical experience or a medical encounter that basically leaves a mark. It leaves an emotional mark, and that mark is significant enough to disrupt your daily life." TS 2:06