The aim of this project is to determine if an online, ten-module Psychological Body ArmorTM (PBA) course helps nurses develop resilience and post-traumatic growth, as well as decrease stress, depression and anxiety. Nurses will have the opportunity to provide feedback about the PBA course three to six months after completion to see how effectively the course helped manage stressful events.

In this before-and-after study, Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Graduate Nurses (GNs) in Manitoba will be invited to complete the online course. The PBA course can be completed at the nurse’s own pace over a 12- to 16-week period. Valid and reliable survey tools are being used in the study to measure levels of depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress, resilience, and post-traumatic growth to assess scores before, immediately following, and three to six months after completing the course.

Completion of the PBA course is expected to improve resilience and post-traumatic growth scores, decrease post-traumatic stress indicators, and decrease psychological stress, anxiety and depression levels for nurses in the Manitoba workforce. Findings from a recent pilot study that enrolled 21 nursing and psychiatric nursing students from Brandon University showed very high levels of effectiveness of the PBA course among nursing students.

Nurses are exposed to high-stress and traumatic events that include patient deaths, violence and incivility. More is needed to help nurses recover from post-traumatic stress injuries and develop proactive resilience in Manitoba.