Perceived Supervisor Support and Its Influencing Factors among Nurses as Second Victims After Patient Safety Incidents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective To investigate perceived supervisor support and its influencing factors among nurses as second victims following patient safety incidents in tertiary hospitals of Shanxi Province. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a questionnaire administered to 366 nurses from 5 tertiary hospitals in Shanxi Province. The research tool was a supervisor support perception questionnaire comprising 30 items across five dimensions: work assistance, emotional support, professional development, non-punitive support, and fair support. Results The total score of nurses' perception of supervisor support was 107.21 ± 21.56, indicating a moderate level. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that professional title, whether the department provided related support training, the existence of a non-punitive reporting system, and the level of transformational leadership were independent factors influencing the perception of support (P < 0.05). These factors collectively explained 79.90% of the total variance. Conclusion The perception of supervisor support among nurse second victims requires enhancement. It is recommended that healthcare institutions enhance transformational leadership, foster a non-punitive safety culture, and establish systematic support training programs to effectively improve support for second victims. These measures would collectively contribute to enhancing nurses' perception of supervisor support following adverse events.