Alarming study: nurses in Austria as a second victim

Alarming study: nurses in Austria as a second victim

In a new and revealing study, the phenomenon of the "second victims" is discussed among nurses. All those specialists - including doctors, nurses and physiotherapists - are called "second victims", which are burdened by unforeseen incidents, medical errors or incorrect treatments. A team led by intensive care doctor Eva Potura took part in a survey to find out how many nurses in Austria are affected.

A total of 928 nurses took part in the online survey. It is interesting that over two thirds of the respondents (68 percent) initially did not know that they could be one of the second victims. After a brief explanation of the terms, however, about 82 percent stated that they now recognized as such. In almost two thirds of the cases, the nursing staff experienced such an incident within last year.

frequent triggers and their effects

Another alarming finding of the study suggests that many of the surveyed nurses were victims of violent incidents who were pending from patients or their relatives. 37 percent of the participants reported aggressive behavior, while 24 percent of the unexpected death or suicide of a patient proved to be stressful. These incidents can lead to serious psychological and physical complaints, including sleep disorders, anxiety or even psychosomatic complaints.

An interesting result of the study shows that almost 80 percent of the women surveyed were. This group also showed a higher prevalence of symptoms than its male colleagues. Younger nurses are particularly stressful for the aftermath of critical incidents, which requires the urgency of a differentiated view of the support.

Although over half of the respondents claimed support after a traumatic incident, this help was often limited to the colleagues. 92 percent of the nurses surveyed sought support in their immediate work environment. Potura emphasizes that special training of the peers is crucial for the processing of critical events. There is a clear need for systematic organization of support measures, including de-escalation and communication training.

In addition, there were also indications that 31 percent of those surveyed received no help, even though they had needed them. 13 percent even stated that they were denied the necessary support. This underlines the need that support is clearly structured and implemented. The database of the survey, which was carried out by the "Second Victim" association together with the Wiesbaden Institute for Healthcare Economics and Patient Safety (Wihelp), indicates that there is a clear need for action in the Austrian healthcare system.

The survey took place between September 15 and December 12, 2023 and was aimed at nurses who are members of the Austrian Health and Nursing Association. The results show that the profession of nursing staff carries not only a physical but also an emotional risk, which should be taken into account in the future design of further training programs and support offers.

Does this topic find your interest? Then you are invited to read further details in the comprehensive publication of the study developed by those involved in order to raise awareness of the emotional and psychological challenges that face nurses in their everyday work. For a deeper insight you can click here .