Date of Award
5-2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Chair
Dr. Patsy Anderson
Committee Chair School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 2
Dr. LaWanda Baskin
Committee Member 2 School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 3
Dr. Bonnie Harbaugh
Committee Member 3 School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 4
Dr. Nina McLain
Committee Member 4 School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 5
Dr. Yang Ge
Committee Member 5 School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 6
Dr. Julie Penick
Abstract
Medication errors are inherent in health care due to human fallibility and inherent systemic complexities. Nurses are often unjustly blamed after committing a medication error despite the multitude of contributing factors. Formal education and healthcare organizations focus on preventing medication errors, but little has been done to support nurses involved in these tragic incidents. Recent cases, including RaDonda Vaught and Kimberly Hiatt, demonstrated the victimization of nurses after committing medication errors that plague the healthcare system potentially causing profound psychological trauma, often known as Second Victim Syndrome, SVS. There is limited research on the phenomenon of SVS in nursing due to medication errors.
The purpose of this study was to define and explore SVS among nurses who have committed or witnessed medication errors. The study design was quantitative and descriptive. The researcher used a customized survey as the instrument to collect data regarding familiarity and experiences with SVS, formal education to mitigate SVS and support post-medication errors. The survey was distributed via email to nurses licensed in Mississippi. Study findings indicated most participants lacked familiarity with the term SVS, received no formal training to navigate the emotional turmoil post-error, felt that they had experienced or witnessed another nurse experiencing SVS, and reported inadequate support post-medication error to mitigate the detrimental effects of SVS. The findings of this study highlight the urgent necessity for a paradigm shift in the culture within nursing and health care. Further research is needed to deepen understanding of SVS in nursing and best practices for mitigating its occurrence.
Copyright
Matthew Riehm, 2024
Recommended Citation
Riehm, Matthew, "Second Victim Syndrome: Nurses Suffering in Silence" (2024). Dissertations. 2229.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/2229