Abstract

In many healthcare organizations the needed support for second victims is lacking or unavailable. This paper describes the evaluation of debriefing support program for nurses who are second victims. Unanticipated and tragic patient outcomes will happen to excellent healthcare providers, the results being anxiety, depression, guilt, and fear. The effects of being a second victim can result in post-traumatic stress and compassion fatigue, with providers ultimately leaving the profession. After obtaining IRB approval, a volunteer debriefing support program was implemented. Validated surveys and an encounter form were utilized to collect data to identify the prevalence and effects of second victim and the impact of the support program. The results establish the prevalence of second victim and the need for a debriefing program. A debriefing program increases staff resilience following adverse events and it expedites the recovery of the healthcare provider to improve quality of care, patient safety, and staff engagement and retention.

Author Details

Michele Gatzert, DNP, MSN, RN

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Mixed/Multi Method Research

Keywords:

Second Victims, Caregivers, Mental Health

Advisor

Debra J. Nogueras

Second Advisor

Jill Diede

Third Advisor

Patricia Potter

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Capella University

Degree Year

2015

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

Date of Issue

2015-10-09

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