Preventive Support Strategies for the Second Victim Phenomenon in Nurses: A Mixed-Method Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Professional Well-being
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Patient safety incidents can lead to the second victim phenomenon, causing significant psychological distress among healthcare professionals.
• While post-incident support has been explored, there's a recognized gap in preventive strategies, particularly for nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify nurses' specific needs for preventive support concerning the second victim phenomenon.
• To develop consensus-based strategies for mitigating the impact of the second victim phenomenon on nurses.

Main Methods:

• A convergent mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating focus group interviews with nurses and a three-round Delphi survey involving experts.
• Qualitative data from focus groups were thematically analyzed, while Delphi survey data assessed the necessity, feasibility, and validity of proposed strategies.

Main Results:

• Nurses reported emotional distress, stigma, and turnover intentions due to inadequate formal support.
• Identified key support components include incident prevention/response, understanding the phenomenon, post-incident care, and resource accessibility.
• Recommended strategies include case-based education, empathy training, and anonymous digital support, validated by experts for integration into institutional frameworks.

Conclusions:

• Findings support and expand international models for second victim support, highlighting the influence of blame-prone cultures and hierarchical structures.
• Managerial engagement is identified as a critical enabler for effective support systems.
• Systematic integration of preventive education, leadership commitment, and organizational preparedness is essential for sustainable support.