a counselor for floor nurses

[atejen]

I have been a monitor tech for 15 years. During that time, i was able to finish nursing school and obtain my ASN. Luckily for me, the hospital that i worked for, hired me on as a new grad for medsurg for one year before i transferred back to the cardiac floor i originated from. I have been cardiac nurse for 2 years now going to school to finish up my BSN.

My questions would be- being in the hospital setting for so long, i have seen floor nurses reach their wits ends - with patients, politics, fellow nurses, personal & professional lives. I want to know is there a job position that allows me to be a "counselor" for my fellow co-workers? Something like where a new grad can come and express her feelings for her first code that didnt make it or a nurse that got "chewed out by family"?.. I know that for police officers, they have to go to counseling to handle traumatic situations and PTSD. Is there such a position for nurses ? If so, what is this position/job title called? And how would i acquire such position?

[elkpark]

I've seen lots of that kind of mentoring happen informally over the years, but I have never seen or heard of that being an actual paid position for someone. Employers provide EAPs for staff to have access to counseling and referrals for issues they are having at home or work, and, in my experience, other than that, it is informal, casual mentoring. I would expect that, if an employer did want to create a position for that kind of work, it would be for someone with counseling/therapy credentials.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

This is what EAP is for. People who provide psychological intervention/support have to be qualified to do so. It's not a job for amateurs. To be honest, I would never want to confide any psychological or other health issues to anyone in my workplace... it is much better to go to an 'outside' source for help.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

My current workplace has a program for staffers that are/were involved in traumatic, extremely stressful, or ethically challenging episodes/issues. It is to help with debriefing.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

This is the purpose of EAP and for critical or fatal scenarios CISD (critical incident stress debriefing) or a TLC (traumatic loss coalition)

TLC and CISD are outside hospital groups called in or referred to as needed.

EAP is still paid for by the facility