Healthcare providers can often adjust well to the multitude of demands encountered during an unexpected or traumatic clinical event. Providers may have strong emotional defenses that carry them through and let them “get the job done.” Yet sometimes the emotional aftershock can be difficult. Signs and symptoms of this emotional aftershock may last a few days, a few weeks, a few months or longer.

Second victims are “healthcare providers who are involved in an unanticipated adverse patient event, medical error and/or a patient-related injury and become victimized in the sense that the provider is traumatized by the event.”

NJHA is hosting two train-the-trainer workshops, June 6 or June 8, focusing on this important topic. Experts will address workplace aggression the second victim phenomenon; moral distress; behavioral health; and nurse and physician burnout.

Second victims frequently feel personally responsible for the unexpected patient outcomes, feel as though they have failed the patient and second-guess their clinical skills and knowledge base.

Each second victim, even those involved in the same event, will have unique experiences and needs. Regardless of job title, providers respond in predictable manners. The six stages of second victim recovery explain how the second victim is impacted by the clinical event.

This program is targeted towards physicians, nurse leaders, nurses, quality managers, risk managers, pharmacist, human resource managers, post-acute facilities and public health professionals.

Click here to register.