How to mitigate the effects of peri-operative death on nursing staff

Being involved in a traumatic event such as a patient death has the potential to have long- lasting negative effects on staff working in health and social care. The perioperative environment is a unique, challenging area of healthcare where nurses and other perioperative staff are exposed to a number of stressors that can cause intense feelings, which many will be unprepared for. The combination of these two phenomena can mean that the death of a patient in the perioperative environment can be especially traumatic to staff. In this article, the possible effects of perioperative death on staff are explored. The ‘second victim’ phenomenon is discussed, alongside the value of appropriate support and the role of emotionally intelligent and resilient organisations. The need for further research exploring the experiences of nurses following a patient death, and ways to encourage engagement with interventions that promote their well being are identified.