Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

Also a non-company consultant would help. This gives a totally confident debriefing and closure to any stress related problem.
A consultant that specializes in Stress Managment, Relaxation Management, and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is the key.

Debriefing is very important. Funny, I worked in mental health for 20 plus years; it took a very serious choking event to make me leave my director's position. They debriefed us over a MONTH after the event. Fortunatey, as a non nursing personnel at the time, I resucitated the individual; however, this was not the first incident I experienced with this facility followed by no support. This was eleven years after I found a patient with a fatal bullet wound to his head.

The day I found a guy with a fatal bullet wound to his head in the parking lot of a local hospital we provided mental health services to should have warned me as to how this agency handled these type of events.

We are human first, health professionals second. Many people believe that their reaction is the ONLY reaction to stressful eventes. Many facilities need work in this area. This incident two years ago pushed me right over the edge; there is nothing worse than having an emergency in a non medical facility, assisting and resucitating the individual and being responsible for thirty other program participants and ten other staff.

I continue to giggle every time someone identifies me as a 'new nurse' and will not allow me to expand my horizons or work as a PRN nurse elsewhere. They are clueless as to the experiences I have encountered. Trauma happens to the patient and anyone who is involved! Make sure you have resources available to you. The long term effects can show up just when 'you do not expect it'.

I hear Emergency Departments talk about stress debriefing often, I have yet to actually see one happen. I do all the sexual assault cases and I can tell you these take their toll. It seems wrong to use an EAP type program, do you think it is a cost factor?

yes TraumaRUs the EAP might be one method, we just need a champion to take it on. We used it once when one of our staff members died unexpectedly.

As with every thing else if we want it done nurses must take the lead. Let us pool our thoughts and develop this much needed service ourselves. How about a forum on this site where we can pool our ideas?

traumaRUs, We don't need to spend $$$ but we can share ideas for debriefing and coping with nuring related stress with each other. Most of us, if not all, have had a traumatic expierience and if we share how we coped, others could benefit. How about setting up a "Share your stress relief" thread or blog on allnurses?