Title

Implementation of a Second Victim Program: HOPE Team

Author

Sherrie Lee, Gardner-Webb University

Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Committee Chair

Anna Hamrick

Abstract

The healthcare workforce is composed of a variety of roles and disciplines that do their best ensuring patient safety and quality care. Nurses spend more time with the patient than any other discipline. They not only are responsible for the care of their patients but their families during hospitalization. The role and responsibilities of a nurse puts them in a position for making mistakes. After a mistake is made, the patient becomes the first victim, the nurse becomes the second victim, and the organization becomes the third victim. A second victim is a healthcare worker who makes a mistake and the patient suffers injury, harm, or death. Organizations have not done a good job providing support or resources for a second victim after the error occurs. The literature review provided a basic understanding of the emotions and reactions a healthcare worker experiences after an adverse event occurs. The purpose of this Capstone Project was to develop and implement a second victim response team and identify the effect of an adverse event on a nurse's professional identity and desire to remain in the profession. A staff support survey was used to collect the data used to develop the response program. Return rate for the survey was 11% and findings revealed that either formal or informal emotional support for healing did not have an effect on a nurse's desire to remain in the profession in a rural community hospital.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Citation Information

Lee, Sherrie, "Implementation of a Second Victim Program: HOPE Team" (2014). Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects. 26.
https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/nursing_etd/26