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

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Psychology
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Nurse well-being is a critical national priority.
• Perioperative nurses are susceptible to psychological and physical trauma following medical errors.
• Consequences include impaired concentration, absenteeism, and staff turnover, affecting nurses, patients, and organizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the high risk of trauma experienced by perioperative nurses after medical errors.
• To introduce an evidence-based toolkit designed to support nurses affected by medical errors.
• To provide resources for understanding, supporting, and managing the impact of medical errors on nursing staff.

Main Methods:

• Development of an evidence-based toolkit by the AORN Clinical Nursing Practice Committee.
• The toolkit focuses on understanding the phenomenon, providing support, measuring the issue's scope, and establishing organizational support programs.
• Review of the toolkit's development process and resources.

Main Results:

• The toolkit provides a structured approach to supporting nurses after medical errors.
• It offers guidance on assessing the impact and implementing organizational support.
• The resources aim to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms experienced by affected nurses.

Conclusions:

• Supporting nurses affected by medical errors is crucial for mitigating negative consequences.
• The developed toolkit serves as a vital resource for healthcare organizations.
• Implementing the toolkit can enhance nurse well-being, patient safety, and organizational stability.