Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify leadership awareness of emotional stress and employee support efforts in pediatric hospitals.
BACKGROUND: The current pediatric environment has seen increases in treatment intensity, care duration, and acuity of patients resulting in increased likelihood of being exposed to emotional events.
METHODS: Mail survey was sent to chief nursing officers at 87 pediatric hospitals.
RESULTS: A total of 49 responses (56%) were received. Hospitals with less than 250 beds were significantly more likely to rate emotional stress as a large to very large problem, whereas ANCC Magnet(R) hospitals felt better about support efforts after patient deaths. Most commonly used support offerings focused on staff recovery after a traumatic event as opposed to training for prevention of emotional stress.
CONCLUSIONS: Emotional stress is a well-recognized issue in pediatric hospitals with comparatively large resource commitment. Further focus on caregiver prevention training and unit leadership recognition of stress may be needed.