Keywords
labor and delivery nursing; sexual trauma in obstetrical patients; obstetric violence; qualitative interviews; maternal health nursing; obstetrical nursing in the United States
Abstract
Labor and delivery nurses care for women from diverse backgrounds who are preparing for a life-changing event, often marked by fear, excitement, sadness, and joy. However, 1 in 5 women in the United States have experienced rape or attempted rape, and for these survivors, labor can become re-traumatizing. Many report flashbacks, dissociation, and a sense of “being back in the rape” during childbirth. Research further links prior sexual assault to unplanned cesareans, traumatic births, and childbirth-related PTSD. Trauma-informed care (TIC) provides a framework to reduce these risks by encouraging providers to understand trauma, recognize signs of distress, and act to avoid further harm. Although case reports show TIC can be applied successfully in obstetrics, there is no standardized TIC education for labor and delivery nurses. This gap represents an understudied but critical area of women’s health.
This research explores labor and delivery nurses’ knowledge, experiences, and attitudes regarding TIC for patients with a history of sexual trauma. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 nurses and interpreted using Bourdieu’s sociological framework to identify potential educational needs. By revealing gaps in understanding, this study aims to support the development of targeted training programs that improve patient safety, promote positive birth experiences, and reduce psychological and physical harm for mothers and newborns. The results found that many themes impact a nurse’s experience with TIC, including unequal access to trauma-informed capital, constraints and marginalization within the clinical field, embodiment of the TIC model, consequences of TIC implementation in an evolving field, and crafting TIC through moral code and patient advocacy. Overall, these themes show that nurses are not receiving adequate support or training for TIC implementation and instead rely on their personal attributes and informal experience. Standardizing TIC education for all nurses may result in fewer identified disparities in nurses' experiences.
Thesis Completion Year
2026
Thesis Completion Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair
Navarro, Kimberly
College
College of Nursing
Department
Nursing Practice
Thesis Discipline
Nursing
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
McGraw, Kayleigh, "The Knowledge, Experiences, and Attitudes of Nurses Regarding Trauma-Informed Care for Sexually Abused Intrapartum Patients" (2026). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 514.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/514
Included in
Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, Nursing Midwifery Commons, Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons, Women's Health Commons
Accessibility Statement
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