October 31, 2017: The Second Victim: Sharing the Journey toward Healing
Healthcare organizations typically take a structured approach to providing care and support to patients and their families when an unintended event results in patient harm. However, healthcare practitioners involved in a critical incident also experience consequences, from sadness and concern to suffering and anguish, which often go unrecognized and overlooked. The term "second victim" (where the "first victim" is the patient) refers to the phenomenon when a caregiver experiences emotional trauma as a result of having a role in a harmful patient safety incident and is distinct from acts of intentional misconduct. This bulletin shares one pharmacist's story and his experience as the second victim. Read more ...
