At one point in our career, we've all been in the position where an unplanned outcome or event has occurred and we're left questioning ourselves, our career decisions, and our responsibility for the event. There isn't a professional working who has never made an error, misjudged a situation, or required mentoring or reeducation. In this issue, we have an excellent article on second victim syndrome (SVS), "The Importance of Supportive Leadership Following an Unplanned Event" (see page 18).
SVS refers to what happens to the person at the point of contact where an unintended event has occurred. The author describes potential fallout from such an event-the labeling that occurs, the loss of comfort among one's peers, and the sense that you're shunned. There has been scant healthcare research looking at this, but the work on just culture has made great strides in addressing root causes. To examine the root cause is to look at the situation and not the individual. Far too often, we look to blame an individual, whether a leader or a group, for what's a systemic, organizational, or process issue. When blame occurs, the individual at the core is hurt and experiences what can sometimes be career-altering repercussions.
The author goes on to reflect that the leader in these situations can have a tremendous impact on the response to unplanned events. Leading by example means not just reviewing the event but also the individual's well-being and response to the error. Debriefing is essential, and sometimes it needs to be a group activity. Perhaps there was a code blue that didn't go well, the unexpected death of a young patient or a long-term patient who had been improving. The nurse may be a new graduate or new employee who's now questioning themselves: "What did I miss?" "Should I have called sooner?" "How did I make such an error?"
When we consider our personal and professional reactions to errors in the workplace, be a part of the solution and not a member of the blame game-the knee-jerk reaction that's so common in healthcare. I challenge you to reach out, support, mentor, and advocate for a just culture in your work environment.