Whistle-blowing incidents can significantly affect the long-term emotional well-being of the nurses involved, according to a National Nursing News report.
The study, which appears in the Oct. 2011 issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing, involved in-depth interviews with nurse whistleblowers and nurses who have been reported by whistleblowers. The researchers discovered a number of long-term emotional and mental health problems, including alcoholism, nightmares, paranoid behavior at work and overwhelming distress.
The lead researcher, Kath Peters, RN, PhD, senior lecturer at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Western Sydney, said the researchers knew from previous research that whistle-blowing had a negative impact on the lives of those involved. However, the study highlighted how long-lasting and intense the emotional problems can be.
The authors emphasized that nurses who blow the whistle may be unprepared for the effect it will have on their mental health. However, they stressed the importance of whistleblowers in uncovering medical fraud and other issues.
Related Articles on Nursing:
Staff Education Tool: Tip Card & Poster for Nurses Using Social Media
Nursing Groups Provide Social Media Guidelines for Nurses
Nurse Develops Strategies for Preventing Post-Surgical Blindness
The study, which appears in the Oct. 2011 issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing, involved in-depth interviews with nurse whistleblowers and nurses who have been reported by whistleblowers. The researchers discovered a number of long-term emotional and mental health problems, including alcoholism, nightmares, paranoid behavior at work and overwhelming distress.
The lead researcher, Kath Peters, RN, PhD, senior lecturer at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Western Sydney, said the researchers knew from previous research that whistle-blowing had a negative impact on the lives of those involved. However, the study highlighted how long-lasting and intense the emotional problems can be.
The authors emphasized that nurses who blow the whistle may be unprepared for the effect it will have on their mental health. However, they stressed the importance of whistleblowers in uncovering medical fraud and other issues.
Related Articles on Nursing:
Staff Education Tool: Tip Card & Poster for Nurses Using Social Media
Nursing Groups Provide Social Media Guidelines for Nurses
Nurse Develops Strategies for Preventing Post-Surgical Blindness