Hospital-based trauma social work

The role of a social worker in an acute hospital trauma setting can be emotionally intense and complex. It is a fast-paced environment and there is a need to be prepared for any situation. There can be wide-ranging and far-reaching psychosocial implications for the injured person. Traumatic stress can impact not only the person injured, but also those who witnessed the event, those who learn of a close family member or friend being impacted, and those who experience repeated exposure to details of the event. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is used by psychiatrists to diagnose mental health disorders and may guide other care professionals. Social workers are often called upon to assist someone to manage symptoms of traumatic stress. In an Australian study analysing people’s perceptions of their own recovery from major road trauma, social support resources were the most commonly identified resource to aid recovery.