Peer support for nurses as second victims: Resilience, burnout, and job satisfaction

Background: Although there is a demonstrated need for peer support programs for healthcare workers like Resilience In Stressful Events, little is known about their utilization. This study evaluated awareness and utilization of Resilience In Stressful Events among nurses at one teaching hospital; perceptions of program benefits; and resilience, burnout, and job satisfaction among Resilience In Stressful Events users versus non-users. Methods: Cross-sectional surveys of staff nurses and nurse leaders. Pearson Chi-Square tests and logistic regressions were used to establish significant differences. Results: There were 337 responses (response rate 8.3%) from staff nurses. Awareness of Resilience In Stressful Events was 87%, but there was limited Resilience In Stressful Events activation for oneself (23%) or others (6%). Among recent users (n = 30), 47% reported that Resilience In Stressful Events improved their ability to work with confidence, 65% felt better after using Resilience In Stressful Events, and 70% found the program helpful. Among non-users, 39% wished they had used Resilience In Stressful Events and 34% wished they had activated Resilience In Stressful Events on behalf of a colleague. Nurses who used Resilience In Stressful Events reported more burnout and greater resilience than those who had not, but similar job satisfaction. There were 75 responses from nurse leaders (response rate 69%), 93% of whom were aware of Resilience In Stressful Events; 56% had activated Resilience In Stressful Events. Eighty percent reported Resilience In Stressful Events was personally helpful and 68% reported the program was helpful for their staff. Nurse leaders who activated Resilience In Stressful Events were more resilient than those who had not, but similar in burnout and job satisfaction. Conclusions: Nurses indicated favorable perceptions of using Resilience In Stressful Events, and its utilization was associated with greater resilience but higher burnout in frontline nurses.