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The suffering of nurses involved in adverse events, such as medication errors or patient falls, is a growing concern in occupational health. It affects the availability of resources needed to provide sufficient and high-quality care. Literature identifying nurses as “second victims” of such events—after the patient and their family—makes this suffering more visible. In Quebec, as elsewhere, this suffering manifests on psychological, physical, and emotional levels. Nurses require targeted support and interventions to overcome it, receive care, and continue providing patient care.
A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with nurses and managers in Quebec to identify the resources and support they receive following a serious adverse event.
Individual interviews were carried out with 15 nurses involved in serious adverse events and 11 managers involved in event management. The interviews focused on the resources available in the workplace to support affected nurses.
Our findings indicate that resources and support are almost non-existent, and that the subject is completely ignored in risk management policies and protocols. Nonetheless, recognizing the importance of supporting nurses, hospital managers often act informally to provide assistance.
Given the urgency of addressing this issue and the lack of formal resources in health care institutions, we propose interventions aligned with the lived experiences of nurses, particularly targeting the mental and emotional suffering generated by adverse events and their management.
A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with nurses and managers in Quebec to identify the resources and support they receive following a serious adverse event.
Individual interviews were carried out with 15 nurses involved in serious adverse events and 11 managers involved in event management. The interviews focused on the resources available in the workplace to support affected nurses.
Our findings indicate that resources and support are almost non-existent, and that the subject is completely ignored in risk management policies and protocols. Nonetheless, recognizing the importance of supporting nurses, hospital managers often act informally to provide assistance.
Given the urgency of addressing this issue and the lack of formal resources in health care institutions, we propose interventions aligned with the lived experiences of nurses, particularly targeting the mental and emotional suffering generated by adverse events and their management.