“On March 16, 2020, I began receiving the calls…
Nurses across all specialties were fearful — for themselves, their families, their patients and the community at large. These nurses were former students, ICU colleagues, and friends, calling in need of a psychologically safe space outside of the workplace to express emotions without fear of judgement or repercussion.
15 days after a global pandemic was declared, one by one, I began Debriefing the Front Lines.
I kept going until alone was no longer enough.
I invite you to meet our team.
- Tara Kosmas, Founder
Mission
Provide structured debriefing of single incident and cumulative care taking trauma, emotional wellness offerings, sobriety support and continuing education to nurses working the bedside and beyond.
Vision
We unite nurses and alleviate suffering through the sharing of personal stories and experiences.
Debriefing the Front Lines influences and activates the power of commUNITY.
We fuel efforts that address the need for psychological first aid and emotional wellness. We help Nurses find their voice, empower them to speak their needs.
Together, we are redefining the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the modern nurse.
History
In March of 2020, for the first time, Nurses were fearful for themselves, their families, their patients and the commUNITY at large.
Nurses were in need of a psychologically safe space outside of their affiliated workplace to express emotion free of judgement.
It was then, one by one, we began Debriefing the Front Lines.
We are witnessing a unique and complex occupational trauma that is affecting the collective Nursing profession. The COVID-19 pandemic inadvertently brought to public light the struggles, ethical dilemmas and ongoing challenge of providing dignified, quality patient care within our healthcare systems.
96% of nurses report experiencing at least one symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and nearly 21% meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis of PTSD.
This trauma is having an immediate and profound effect.
Every day, nurses are living, working and breathing in the aftermath of tragedy. Nurses of all specialties and in all roles are
as if they are being asked to so an impossible job
feeling the weight of budget cuts and inadequate staffing
navigating the physical, emotional and spiritual affects of cumulative caretaking trauma
feel soul tired, a compassion fatigue that sleep cannot remedy
doing their best to care for themselves while simultaneously caring for others
all the while trudging through the intense emotions felt by the collective profession.
Nursing roles, titles and personal beliefs may vary however one fundamental truth remains, nurses are in need of a psychologically safe space to express emotion without judgement and repercussion.
Alone is no longer enough.
Impact
Debriefing the Front Lines is the only national nurse led non-profit organization debriefing single incident and
Cumulative Care Taking Trauma®.
Debriefing the Front Lines facilitated 33% more debriefings in 2023 supporting 398 nurses in need of nurse-led mental healthcare.
61% of the 398 debriefings were scholarship based sessions for nurses on medial leave due to anxiety, depression, PTSD and those experiencing financial hardship as a result of extenuating life circumstances.