Piloting Peer Support to Decrease Secondary Traumatic Stress, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout Among Air Medical Crewmembers.

OBJECTIVE: The current research was performed to assess professional quality of life; identify factors associated with secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction; and evaluate the effectiveness of a peer support pilot intervention among air medical crewmembers. METHODS: Quantitative research methods were used to assess secondary traumatic stress, compassion satisfaction, and burnout among flight nurses and paramedics. Demographic variables and secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction scores using the Professional Quality of Life Scale were assessed. A comparison of survey scores obtained before and 16 months after the implementation of a piloted peer support program was performed. RESULTS: Crewmembers with less experience within an air medical program and those without a support system are at the highest risk of developing secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and impaired compassion satisfaction. Observed scores for secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction suggest that peer support may be an effective intervention among air medical crewmembers. No statistically significant differences in secondary traumatic stress, burnout, or compassion satisfaction were observed by clinical role, marital status, or years in their profession. CONCLUSION: Peer support after emotionally challenging or stressful transports may combat secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout. This intervention would be most beneficial for crewmembers who are newer to the transport organization and lack social or familial support.

"Was Definitely Different Because They Were Kids": Caring for Patients From a School Shooting.

BACKGROUND: Trauma nurses may experience secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout as their clinical roles expose them to patients with traumatic injuries. Because traumatic events described as being most stressful for nurses involve sudden death or children and adolescents, multicasualty, school-associated shooting events are likely to be particularly stressful for nurses who care for the affected patients. OBJECTIVE: This research examined the psychosocial effects of caring for patients in an inpatient trauma unit following a multicasualty, school-associated shooting event. METHODS: This research was guided by a qualitative case series approach, a theory of secondary traumatic stress, and the compassion fatigue resilience model. Registered nurses who provided care in the trauma unit of a Level I trauma center to patients who were injured during a multicasualty, school-associated shooting event in the Southeastern United States were invited to participate. RESULTS: The three themes identified by this research were (a) innocence of the patients, (b) trajectories of increased emotions, and (c) processing emotional stressors. Nurses reported the benefits of peer support and provided recommendations to increase the efficacy of formal debriefing sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses value self-care routines and peer support as coping mechanisms to foster well-being following exposure to traumatic events. Hospitals should encourage active participation in timely critical incident stress debriefings and promote the use of employee assistance services to support nursing staff after these events.

Caring for Patients From a School Shooting: A Qualitative Case Series in Emergency Nursing.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency nurses are at risk for secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout as a result of witnessing the trauma and suffering of patients. The traumatic events perceived as being most stressful for emergency nurses involve sudden death, children, and adolescents. Multicasualty, school-associated shooting events are, therefore, likely to affect emergency nurses, and recent reports indicate an increase in multicasualty, school-associated shootings. This research is necessary to learn of emergency nurses' experiences of caring for patients from a school shooting event in an effort to benefit future preparedness, response, and recovery. This manuscript describes these experiences and provides opportunities for nurses, peers, and leaders to promote mental health and resilience among emergency nurses who may provide care to patients after such events. METHODS: A qualitative case series approach, a theory of secondary traumatic stress, and the compassion fatigue resilience model guided the research. The emergency nurses who provided care to patients who were injured during a 2018 multicasualty, school-associated shooting in the Southeastern United States were invited to participate. RESULTS: The themes identified by this research with 7 participants were preparation and preparedness, coping and support mechanisms, and reflections and closure. DISCUSSION: The results identified through this research may be translated to policies and practice to improve emergency nurses' welfare, coping, resilience, and retention. Patient outcomes may also be improved through planning and preparedness.