Study 5
The impact of workplace investigations and Fitness to Practice (FtP) referrals on the mental health and suicidality of women nurses, using mixed methods.
Context:
Being subject to a workplace investigation is a known risk factor for suicidality in doctors but little is understood about the impact on nurses.
Aims:
This study aims to understand how the experience of a serious complaint, critical incident or FtP investigation impacts on the distress and suicidality of women Registered Nurses (RNs), taking account of intersectional experiences among a diverse nursing workforce. This study will consider mistakes, current workplace investigations and the FtP referral systems and make recommendations for improvements.
Participants:
Scoping work will inform development of an on-line survey, open to all women RNs, to better understand the impact of mistakes in the workplace and FtP investigations on mental health and suicidality of the nursing workforce. This will be followed by in-depth individual narrative interviews with women RNs who have personal experience of mistakes, workplace disciplinary and FtP investigatory processes.
Participant recruitment dates: March 2026 onwards.
Methods:
A mixed methods approach includes initial scoping work, an on-line survey and narrative interviews.
Contact us:
If you are interested in finding out more about participating in this study, please complete our contact form.