Knowledge and perceptions of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among prelicensure nursing students

Tracy P. George; Sarah H. Kershner; J. Marty Hucks; Claire DeCristofaro

doi:10.1515/ijnes-2022-0006

Article

Knowledge and perceptions of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among prelicensure nursing students

Tracy P. George , Sarah H. Kershner , J. Marty Hucks and Claire DeCristofaro

Published/Copyright: May 27, 2022

Published by

Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Submit Manuscript Author Information Explore this Subject

From the journal International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship Volume 19 Issue 1

Abstract

Objectives

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact health outcomes in adulthood. Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are associated with resiliency and improved mental and physical health outcomes. There is often a lack of content on ACEs in nursing education. The purpose of this project was to determine the knowledge and perceptions of ACEs and PCEs among prelicensure nursing students.

Methods

A mixed-method pilot study was implanted. Prelicensure nursing students received didactic instruction on ACEs and PCEs and completed online, anonymous ten-item pre- and post-surveys about knowledge on ACEs and PCEs.

Results

A positive percent change was observed with all ten statements from pre- to post-surveys. Six themes emerged from qualitative analysis, revealing the importance and benefits of education on ACEs and PCEs.

Conclusions

This study shows that nursing students valued education regarding ACEs, were willing to incorporate their knowledge of ACEs into their practice, and discovered they might have been exposed to ACEs themselves. Implications for International Audience: All nursing programs must include content on ACEs and PCEs to prepare better nurses to care for patients.

Keywords: adverse childhood experiences; nursing education; nursing students; positive childhood experiences

Corresponding author: Dr. Tracy P. George, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Francis Marion University, 4822 E. Palmetto Street, 29502, Florence, SC, USA, E-mail: tgeorge@fmarion.edu

Research funding: None declared by any of the authors.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Ethical approval: The research related to the human use has complied with all the relevant national regulations, institutional policies, and in accordance with the tenets of the Helsinki Declaration, and has been approved by the authors’ Institutional Review Board (Francis Marion University, George 06-15-2021-018).

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021a). Supporting children who have experienced trauma. Retrieved from https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/foster-care/supporting-children-who-have-experienced-trauma/.Search in Google Scholar

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021b). Interim guidance on supporting the emotional and behavioral health needs of children, adolescents, and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/interim-guidance-on-supporting-the-emotional-and-behavioral-health-needs-of-children-adolescents-and-families-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/.Search in Google Scholar

Assarroudi, A., Nabavi, F. H., Armat, M. R., Ebadi, A., & Vaismoradi, M. (2018). Directed qualitative content analysis: The description and elaboration of its underpinning methods and data analysis process. Journal of Research in Nursing, 23(1), 42–55. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987117741667.Search in Google Scholar

Bethell, C., Jones, J., Gombojav, N., Linkenbach, J., & Sege, R. (2019). Positive childhood experiences and adult mental and relational health in a statewide sample: Associations across adverse childhood experiences levels. JAMA Pediatrics, 173(11), e193007. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.3007.Search in Google Scholar

Branstetter, M. L., Garrett-Wright, E., & Padgett, B. (2019). Adverse childhood experiences: Missed opportunities by nurse practitioners to screen adult clients. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(3), 20–27. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20191118-01.Search in Google Scholar

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Boston, MA: Harvard University Press.10.4159/9780674028845Search in Google Scholar

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Preventing adverse childhood experiences. Retrived from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/fastfact.html.Search in Google Scholar

Crouch, E., Radcliff, E., Strompolis, M., & Srivastav, A. (2019). Safe, stable, and nurtured: Protective factors against poor physical and mental health outcomes following exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACES). Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 12(2), 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-018-0217-9.Search in Google Scholar

Engel, G. L. (1977). The need for a new medical model: A challenge for biomedicine. Science, 196(4286), 129–136.10.1126/science.847460Search in Google Scholar

Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, E., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., EdwardsKoss, V. M. P., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 14, 245–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8.Search in Google Scholar

Gill, M. E., Zhan, L., Rosenberg, J., & Breckenridge, L. A. (2019). Integration of adverse childhood experiences across nursing curriculum. Journal of Professional Nursing, 35(2), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2018.07.003.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Girouard, S., & Bailey, N. (2017). ACEs implications for nurses, nursing education, and nursing practice. Academic Pediatrics, 17(7), S16–S17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2016.09.008.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Grummitt, L. R., Kreski, N. T., Kim, S. G., Platt, J., Keyes, K. M., & McLaughlin, K. A. (2021). Association of childhood adversity with morbidity and mortality in US adults. JAMA Pediatrics, 175(12), 1269–1278. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.2320.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Hedrick, J., Bennett, V., Carpenter, J., Dercher, L., Grandstaff, D., Gosh, K., Grier, L., Meek, V., Poskin, M., Shotton, E., & Waterman, J. (2021). A descriptive study of adverse childhood experiences and depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate nursing students. Journal of Professional Nursing, 37, 291–297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.01.007.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Kameg, B. N., Lindsay, D., Lee, H., & Mitchell, A. (2020). Substance use and exposure to adverse childhood experiences in undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 26(4), 354–363. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390320905669.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

McEwen, C. A., & Gregerson, S. F. (2019). A critical assessment of the adverse childhood experiences study at 20 years. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 56(6), 790–794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.10.016.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

McGuinness, T. A., & Waldrop, J. R. (2015). Adverse childhood cxperiences and the mental health of veterans. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 53(6), 23–26. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20150527-55.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Olsen, J. M., & Warring, S. L. (2018). Interprofessional education on adverse childhood experiences for associate degree nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 57(2), 101–105. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20180123-07.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Onigu-Otite, E., & Idicula, S. (2020). Introducing ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) and resilience to first-year medical students. MedEdPORTAL, 16, 10964. https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10964.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Pletcher, B. A., O’Connor, M., Swift-Taylor, M. E., & DallaPiazza, M. (2019). Adverse childhood experiences: A case-based workshop introducing medical students to trauma-informed care. MedEdPORTAL, 15, 1–8. doi:https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10803.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Srivastav, A., Strompolis, M., Mosely, A., & Daniels, K. (2019). The empower action model: A framework for preventing adverse childhood experiences by promoting health, equity, and well-being across the life span. Health Promotion Practice, 21(4), 525–534. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839919889355.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Waite, R., Gerrity, P., & Arango, R. (2010). Assessment for and response to adverse childhood experiences. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 48(12), 51–61. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20100930-03.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Wakefield, M. K., Williams, D. R., Le Menestrel, S., & Flaubert, J. L. (2021). The future of nursing 2020-2030: Charting a path to achieve health equity. Retrieved from http://nap.edu/25982: National Academies Press.10.17226/25982Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Received: 2022-01-18

Accepted: 2022-05-15

Published Online: 2022-05-27

You are currently not able to access this content.

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2022-0006

Keywords for this article

adverse childhood experiences; nursing education; nursing students; positive childhood experiences