The impact of critical incidents on nurses and midwives: A systematic review

To synthesise the existing literature, which focuses on the impact of critical incidents on nurses and midwives, and to explore their experiences related to the support they received in the current healthcare environment to move on from the event.

Systematic review and qualitative synthesis.

The electronic databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase and Nursing and Allied Health (ProQuest) were systematically searched from 2013-2018, and core authors and journals identified in the literature were manually investigated.

Qualitative studies of all research design types written in English were included according to the PRISMA reporting guidelines. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research.

A total of 7,520 potential publications were identified. After removal of duplicate citations, study selection and appraisal process, 11 qualitative primary research papers progressed to the meta-synthesis by meta-aggregation. The 179 findings and sub-findings from the included studies were extracted, combined and synthesised into three statements addressing three different aspects within the context of critical incidents: the experiences of the impact, the perceptions of support and the ability to move on.

This review illuminated that moving-on after critical incidents is a complex and wearisome journey for nurses and midwives. More attention should to be drawn to second victims within general nursing and midwifery practice to strengthen their ability to navigate the aftermath of critical incidents and reclaim the professional confidence indispensable to remain in the workforce.