R these 4 REAL????

[CMERN]

I was reading a thread in Off-Topic, and it led me to wonder:

Are there really UNIT STRESS GROUPS, or DEBREIFING GRUOPS offered at your hospital or on your unit, for those tragic, troubling cases that nurses deal with often... Do any of your places of employment really implement any thing such as this..Im not talking about ("look on the back of your insurance card and call the mental health number if you feel stressed")..I mean a de-breifing group/time that realy helps those nurses to DEAL with the realy seemingly impossible cases that a nurse experiences ??? Please let me know if these exist...how they might be implemented...the pro's... the con's......

THANK YOU.:)

[JWaldron]

Sure they are. Just not everywhere. My hospital has a Critical Incident Team. Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Chaplain, and, I think, an EAP person on it. I have seen info notices by time clocks about it for years. I was at a meeting just today and someone came in late because she had been participating in a debriefing. When I worked in the ED (12 yrs ago) there was no such formal structure, but the then-manager would set up an informal support meeting that day or the next for those involved who wanted to particpate.

Very helpful.

Joan

If you're too open minded, your brains will fall out.

[OzNurse69]

The hosp where I work has a Critical Incident Debriefing Team, who are called in whenever anything (eg, code, abusive visitor, etc) happens that may warrent their attention. They also have a counselling team who are available any time (office hours, or via pager) for ANY staff member who feels they need them for ANY situation - eg, personal crisis, family problems, work situation. I have felt the need to call them several times over the past few months, & they are wonderful people, & staff can see them whether they are on duty or not, & in work time or on their own time.