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Registered nurses' emotional responses to medication errors and perceived need for support: A qualitative descriptive
Sanu Mahat1, Anne Marie Rafferty2, Katri Vehviläinen-Julkunen1
1Department of Nursing Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|June 19, 2024
Summary
Medication errors create "second victims" among nurses, causing lasting emotional distress. Healthcare leaders must foster supportive environments to mitigate the impact of these incidents on nursing staff.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Healthcare Management
- Patient Safety
Background:
- The second victim phenomenon describes healthcare professionals' distress after patient safety events.
- Medication errors are common and can profoundly affect nurses involved.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore factors contributing to the second victim phenomenon in nurses.
- To describe nurses' emotional responses and support needs after medication errors.
- To highlight the necessity of a dedicated support program for second victims.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative descriptive study design.
- Eleven in-depth semi-structured interviews with registered nurses.
- Thematic analysis of interview data.
Main Results:
- Four themes emerged: contributing factors, emotional responses, support received, and need for a support program.
- Error severity and negative work environments exacerbated the second victim phenomenon.
- Nurses experienced intense negative emotions and insufficient support, increasing stress and anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Medication errors have a significant, long-lasting emotional impact on nurses.
- Support is crucial at multiple levels to help nurses cope with negative emotions post-error.
- Establishing a just, blame-free culture is vital for supporting emotionally impacted nurses.
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