Second Victims in Intensive Care—Emotional Stress and Traumatization of Intensive Care Nurses in Western Austria after Adverse Events during the Treatment of Patients

Samuel Ganahl, Mario Knaus, Isabell Wiesenhuetter, Victoria Klemm, Eva M. Jabinger and Reinhard Strametz
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Samuel Ganahl: Health University of Applied Sciences Tyrol, Innrain 98, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Mario Knaus: Health University of Applied Sciences Tyrol, Innrain 98, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Isabell Wiesenhuetter: Wiesbaden Business School, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany
Victoria Klemm: Wiesbaden Business School, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany
Eva M. Jabinger: Health University of Applied Sciences Tyrol, Innrain 98, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Reinhard Strametz: Wiesbaden Business School, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-9

Abstract: Background: The second victim phenomenon is common among nurses in intensive care units. Apart from quantitative studies, little is known about individual cases among those high-risk groups. This study evaluates the natural history and cause of second victim traumatization in Western Austria for the first time to tailor specific intervention. Methods: A total of 20 guided interviews were conducted with intensive care nurses in Western Austria. All interviews were transcribed and analyzed with MAXQDA software. Evaluation followed the structuring qualitative content analysis scheme according to Kuckartz. Results: The most frequent symptoms of the second victim phenomenon reported were feelings of guilt and problems with falling asleep. Coping with the second victim phenomenon was accomplished by conversations in private as well as among work colleagues. Conclusions: Intensive care nurses are exposed to many exceptional situations which have a high likelihood of resulting in second victim traumatization. As proximal psychosocial support is considered to be a main source of coping, wide-spread implementation of effective psychosocial peer support programs ought to be applied by medical organizations. Patient safety measures such as proactive and reactive clinical risk management (e.g., CIRS) should be linked to second victim support.

Keywords: second victim; intensive care; risk management; support programs; coping strategies; patient safety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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