Does your Hospital offer Critical Incident Debriefing for Nurses

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Nov 5, 2005

I am doing some research trying to find out if any Hospitals offer debriefing for thier nurses. It seems all other medical professions recieve this care except for the field of nursing. I am hoping to be proven wrong.
Questions:
Does your workplace/hospital offer debreifing for nurses after a critical incident?:redpinkhe
Does your hospital/workplace offer a therapist on call to provide support for the nursing staff?

We recently had a new grad who failed miserably on the floor. She was counseled by the NM and offered the EAP. She ended up quitting. That's all I've ever heard about offering help. Perhaps others have been offered help and I just haven't heard about it. I'm getting ready to take an extended leave of absence due to burnout so I may have more info for you in a week or so. See what they have to say. Good Luck

vuhles08 · Nov 5, 2005

We recently had a new grad who failed miserably on the floor. She was counseled by the NM and offered the EAP. She ended up quitting. That's all I've ever heard about offering help. Perhaps others have been offered help and I just haven't heard about it. I'm getting ready to take an extended leave of absence due to burnout so I may have more info for you in a week or so. See what they have to say. Good Luck

I have been hearing alot about burnout and that makes me a little angry. If nurses had some type of support system provided though the Hospital maybe there would not be so much burn out.

I wish you all the best. Let me know if you are offered any help or not, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

Viota

austin heart, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2005

Does your workplace/hospital offer debreifing for nurses after a critical incident?:redpinkhe
Does your hospital/workplace offer a therapist on call to provide support for the nursing staff?

:roll :roll :roll

Yah right.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Nov 6, 2005

Our facility does offer critical incident debriefing... sort of. Debriefing usually happens a day or two after the incident, when many of the staff involved are now off, and would be coming in from home to attend. The debriefings are held in our staff lounge, where people are constantly coming and going. A coworker attended one recently and found that she was more upset when it was over... that it really wasn't what she needed. She also said that it was attended by a number of staff who had never cared for the patient who'd died and weren't even working when it happened, which she found offensive to those who had. They could be very good methods of helping people deal with crisis responses, but only if they're done right.

Trauma Columnist · Nov 6, 2005

I work in a big ER and we do use critical incident stress debriefing - especially for pediatric arrests involving child abuse or mutilation. They are very helpful and we organize them within two hours of the incident so the affected staff can vent.

vuhles08 · Nov 6, 2005

Our facility does offer critical incident debriefing... sort of. Debriefing usually happens a day or two after the incident, when many of the staff involved are now off, and would be coming in from home to attend. The debriefings are held in our staff lounge, where people are constantly coming and going. A coworker attended one recently and found that she was more upset when it was over... that it really wasn't what she needed. She also said that it was attended by a number of staff who had never cared for the patient who'd died and weren't even working when it happened, which she found offensive to those who had. They could be very good methods of helping people deal with crisis responses, but only if they're done right.

That doesn't sound like it is very productive. So far you are the only one who has something close to debriefing I have also asked nurses nearby to where I live and also some of my professors. I really believe something needs to be done. The nurses take care of everyone but who takes care of the nurses. :crying2: God is on our side

vuhles08 · Nov 6, 2005

I work in a big ER and we do use critical incident stress debriefing - especially for pediatric arrests involving child abuse or mutilation. They are very helpful and we organize them within two hours of the incident so the affected staff can vent.

Thats wonderful!!!!!!!!! Do they offer it for any other unit? I know the ER is the worst I was an EMT but death occurs on every floor as does burn out I would like to see a Therapist available for nurses to talk to if they need it.

Thanks for your info.

I hope other hospitals follow your lead!!!!!!!!!

onconurseRT · Nov 6, 2005

I worked in a hospital in CA that did have debriefing opportunities on our oncology unit. It was set up by our special social worker for the unit and the management always helped out in this as well. The idea is absolutely needed. We also had access to other help as well. I now work in VA and I do not have this at all. In fact, in order to deal with the unit I am on now, I see a stress management couselor 1 day a week for "venting" and also to learn new coping methods.

jrcarey · Mar 28, 2011

I am also having a hard time looking for something to present to my floor to have some sort of debriefing for the nurses. currently they only have it in the ER and that it is not use even half the time. I for one need it at times especially with you dont mean to get close to a patient and knowing that they are going to die and as much as you prepare you can not just pack up after work and go about your way. We need to vent or express, to have some one say they understand. I dont want to numb the heart to were i could no longer cry. We can not talk to our spouses about it, or anyone besides our co-workers. There's got to be something.