Perceptions of Nurses Who Are Second Victims in a Hospital Setting.

BACKGROUND: Second victims (SVs) are health care workers traumatized by unanticipated, adverse patient events. These experiences can have personal and professional effects on SVs. Research indicates that SVs experience inadequate support following adverse events. PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of nurses who identified as SVs and their awareness and use of supportive resources. METHODS: A convenience sample of nurses was surveyed, and SV responses were compared with those who did not identify as a SV. Responses were analyzed using nonparametric methods. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-nine (44.3%) of 359 participants identified as SVs. There was a significant relationship between work tenure and SVs (P = .009). A relationship was found between SVs and awareness and use of support resources, with debriefing being the preferred method after an event. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse events trigger emotional trauma in SVs who require administrative awareness, support, and follow-up to minimize psychological trauma in the clinical nurse.

The Relationship Between Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections and Extended Intravenous Solution Hang Times.

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) can result in increased morbidity and mortality and billions of dollars of costs per year to institutions and patients. Fluctuating availability of manufacturers' supplies of intravenous (IV) solutions have created issues for health systems in which policy and procedures have been examined regarding extended hang time for IV solutions. This article examined the relationship between extended hang times of nonadditive IV solutions and incidence of CLABSIs in intensive and general practice inpatient units in a quaternary care setting. The incidence of CLABSIs with extended hang times of up to 96 hours, of nonadditive IV solutions, has demonstrated that significant changes in CLABSIs were not evident.