Supporting Perioperative Personnel After a Medical Error: Addressing Trauma and Promoting Recovery With the AORN Second Victim Tool Kit.

Abstract

The well-being of nurses is at risk, making it a national priority. Perioperative nurses are at high risk for traumatic psychological and physical symptoms after involvement in a medical error. These symptoms can result in workplace-related consequences, including lack of concentration; absenteeism; and leaving their position, facility, or profession. These consequences have implications for the health and safety of the nurse, the patients they care for, and the organization. Providing support to affected individuals is the most important step in reducing the severity and duration of their symptoms. The AORN Clinical Nursing Practice Committee developed an evidence-based tool kit for understanding what affected individuals may be experiencing, how to provide support, how to measure the scope of the issue, and how to set up an organizational support program. This article provides background information on this traumatic phenomenon and reviews the development process for the tool kit and the included resources.