Date of Award

8-2024

Document Type

Campus Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Lisa Heelan-Fancher

Second Advisor

Priscilla Gazarian

Third Advisor

Sally Thorne

Abstract

While childbirth may be a joyous life event, when there is a tragic maternal adverse childbirth event or maternal death, obstetric nurses may find themselves shrouded in secrecy, burying intense emotions, and bearing catastrophic consequences that impact their professional and personal lives when experiencing second victim phenomenon. The Neuman Systems Model was applied to explore obstetric nurses’ experiences, perspectives, and challenges following a maternal adverse childbirth event or maternal death including second victim stressors, interacting variables, and prevention interventions. We utilized interpretive description methodology to critically explore obstetric nurses’ experiences following a maternal adverse childbirth event or maternal death as reflected in the accounts of obstetric nurses (N = 21) working in US hospital settings. We learned about the events that triggered second-victim experiences, the context in which they occurred, the challenges the nurses faced, and ways to prevent the second-victim phenomenon. These findings shed light on possibilities for supporting obstetric nurses, developing cohesive and collaborative team cultures, and creating health policies that may reduce the effects of the second victim phenomenon following a maternal adverse childbirth event or maternal death. These findings have implications for the larger healthcare community.

Comments

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