First few Article Sentences
Healthcare providers involved in serious adverse events can experience a painful array of emotions that may include fear, grief, shame, and anger. While these emotions may be magnified when patients are harmed by an adverse event, they can be triggered even in cases where a provider did not deviate from the standard of care. After an adverse event, the patient and their family are considered the first victims. Healthcare providers are now being considered second victims-"healthcare providers who are involved in an unanticipated adverse patient event, in a medical error and/or a patient related injury and become…traumatized by the event" (Scott, et. al., 2009).
Supporting providers after adverse events is not only a personal concern, but also a patient safety concern. Second victims often feel personally responsible for harm to patients during care, which may cause them to doubt their clinical skills and knowledge. After an adverse event, the providers involved are at greater risk for burn-out, depression, and delivering suboptimal patient care that may result in additional patient harm (Schwappach & Boluarte, 2009).