Compassion satisfaction scores improved significantly after the implementation of a tailored process to debrief critical patient events within a pediatric intensive care unit at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
According to a study published in the June edition of Critical Care Nurse, the 40-bed PICU implemented a Rapid Review of Resuscitation debriefing process, which was developed by members of the unit's bereavement/wellness committee. The process involved a single-page debriefing guide with scripted language and open-ended questions that address a review of the patient event and team dynamics; acknowledgement of the event's emotional effect on staff; and a moment of reverence to honor the patient's life if they died.
After one year of using the debriefing process, staff compassion satisfaction scores were significantly higher, while burnout and secondary traumatic stress scores were unchanged.
"Many debriefing processes focus on communication and teamwork but neglect the emotional impact of critical patient events. We specifically added elements to reflect, to honor the patient's life and recognize the team's efforts," study author Courtney Nerovich, BSN, RN, a nurse in the PICU and a member of the committee, said in a news release. "These additions may have enhanced clinician, patient and team connections while supporting mindfulness and reflection."