Abstract:

Objective To explore the mediating effect of professional identity between the performance of second victim support resources，and safety behaviors among ICU nurses. Methods Using convenience sampling method，nurses in ICU from eight tertiary grade A hospitals in Zhejiang Province were surveyed from July to August 2024 with general information questionnaire，Second Victim Experience and Support Scale，Nurse Professional Identity Scale，and Nurse Safety Behavior Scale. Results The total scores of the 453 ICU nurses’ performance of second victim support resources，professional identity，and safety behaviors were（63.46±11.49），（105.36±18.37），and（49.19±6.67） respectively. The total score of the performance of second victim support resources showed negative correlations with professional identity and safety behaviors score，while professional identity score was positively correlated with safety behaviors score（all P<0.001）. The mediating effect value of professional identity between the performance of second victim support resources and safety behaviors was -0.109（95%CI：-0.139~-0.080），accounting for 58.92% of the total effect. Conclusion Professional identity plays a partial mediating role between the performance of second victim support resources and safety behaviors in ICU nurses. Nursing administrators should pay attention to ICU nurses’ physical and mental health as second victims，emphasize the construction of support systems，and enhance ICU nurses’ professional identity to promote the improvement of safety behaviors.

Key words: ICU nurses, Safety behavior, Second victim, Professional identity, Mediating effect