Once BITTEN, Twice Shy: An Applied Trauma-Informed Healthcare Model

Nurses need a pragmatic theory to understand and respond to the impact of vulnerable patients’ previous healthcare experiences, as these are likely to influence response and adherence to treatment plans. The authors of this paper present the new BITTEN (Betrayal history by health-related institutions, Indicator for healthcare engagement, Traumas related to healthcare, Trust in healthcare providers, patient Expectations and Needs) Model of Trauma-Informed Healthcare. BITTEN identifies patients’ current healthcare expectations and needs as a function of their previous betrayal by healthcare systems, which operates in conjunction with their current health indicators to potentially trigger trauma symptoms and impact trust in healthcare providers.