ABSTRACT
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. In circumstances of major trauma admissions, the social worker meets with people when their world has suddenly been turned upside down. Traumatic events can bring people together; however, traumatic events can also exacerbate pre-existing social issues and place relationships under enormous strain. In this context the social worker’s role is to understand the biomedical aspects and assess the psychosocial factors at play, while working to contain the crisis, address issues and provide resources. This will be done amid all the demands of working in a hospital system.
