Clinical nurses' experiences with sentinel events.

Abstract

L ittle is known about nurses’ perceptions of sentinel events (SEs) and/or the changes needed in the work environment to best support nurses following such events. The Joint Commission defines an SE as an unexpected occurrence involving death and/or serious physical and/or psychological injury to a patient.1 Although data about SE numbers are accessible, there’s little information about nurses’ perceptions of these events. For the years 2005 to 2017, The Joint Commission reported that 67% of all SEs occurred in a hospital setting.1 SEs for the years 2005 to 2017 claimed the lives of 5,826 patients, with an overall total of 11,189 patients impacted in some way.1 Although patients and families are dramatically affected after an SE, so is the nurse who was involved in the event. In the days following such an event, the needs of the nurse are overlooked during this very difficult and traumatic time, leaving them to suffer in silence.2 Monitoring Safety Solutions