What action is recommended to cope with stress after a resuscitation event where a patient did not survive?

The recommended action of considering a referral to a qualified mental health professional is beneficial for several reasons. After a resuscitation event, especially one in which the patient did not survive, healthcare providers may experience significant emotional distress, including feelings of grief, guilt, or trauma. A qualified mental health professional has the training and expertise to provide support, coping strategies, and therapeutic techniques tailored to individuals processing such events.

Professionals can help staff work through their feelings in a constructive way, offering coping mechanisms that promote healing and understanding. This option emphasizes the importance of professional help in dealing with potentially severe and lasting emotional effects, ensuring that providers not only recover personally but also maintain their capacity to care for patients in the future.

While discussing feelings with friends and family, taking time off, or debriefing with a supervisor can all be part of a coping strategy, they may not fully address the depth of emotional distress that can arise from such critical incidents. These actions may provide temporary relief or perspective, but they do not substitute for the specialized support that a mental health professional can offer.