Beating Burnout with Project D.E.A.R.: Debriefing Event for Analysis and Recovery

Abstract

When the World Health Organization announced a global pandemic in March of 2020, health care workers across the globe selflessly and tirelessly stood at the frontline. In addition to the clinical challenges an unknown virus brought forth, health care workers were not prepared for the emotional drain and mental health impact. The health care industry is increasingly facing a crisis as frontline workers experience moral distress, emotional trauma, and burnout in high stress health care environments. Debriefing, defined as facilitated interprofessional team reflection after a clinical event, has been shown to improve clinicians’ ability to manage their grief and is associated with lower burnout. A standardized program workshop and intervention, branded as Project Debriefing Event for Analysis and Recovery (D.E.A.R.), was piloted at a pediatric hospital with a multidisciplinary team. These volunteers served as champions to facilitate debriefings following stressful clinical events. The program included education sessions, integration of a standardized debriefing program, and additional resources. Impact of the workshop and educational intervention was evaluated using a pre–post survey design. Data demonstrated increased comfort for the interprofessional facilitators who provided the standardized debriefing. Participants found the sessions highlighted strengths and areas for opportunity. Champions and participants agreed the standardized process improved their emotional wellbeing. Future quality improvement projects are encouraged to standardize debriefing processes addressing the increased need for support to clinicians after a critical incident has occurred. When the World Health Organization announced a global pandemic in March of 2020, health care workers across the globe selflessly and tirelessly stood at the frontline. In addition to the clinical challenges an unknown virus brought forth, health care workers were not prepared for the emotional drain and mental health impact. The health care industry is increasingly facing a crisis as frontline workers experience moral distress, emotional trauma, and burnout in high stress health care environments. Debriefing, defined as facilitated interprofessional team reflection after a clinical event, has been shown to improve clinicians’ ability to manage their grief and is associated with lower burnout. A standardized program workshop and intervention, branded as Project Debriefing Event for Analysis and Recovery (D.E.A.R.), was piloted at a pediatric hospital with a multidisciplinary team. These volunteers served as champions to facilitate debriefings following stressful clinical events. The program included education sessions, integration of a standardized debriefing program, and additional resources. Impact of the workshop and educational intervention was evaluated using a pre–post survey design. Data demonstrated increased comfort for the interprofessional facilitators who provided the standardized debriefing. Participants found the sessions highlighted strengths and areas for opportunity. Champions and participants agreed the standardized process improved their emotional wellbeing. Future quality improvement projects are encouraged to standardize debriefing processes addressing the increased need for support to clinicians after a critical incident has occurred. Jasmine B. Sandoval, DNP, MBA, RN is a Nurse Leader at the University of Miami Health System, Miami, Florida. She can be reached at [email protected] Mary Hooshmand, PhD, MS, RN, is an Associate Dean for Graduate Clinical Programs and Associate Professor of Clinical at the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida. Danielle Altares Sarik, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, is a Nurse Scientist at the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Coral Gables, Florida.