Clinician Peer Support



Wednesday, April 21, 2021, 12:00 PM - Monday, April 1, 2024, 11:59 PM


Specialties - Anesthesiology, Cardiac Surgery, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Medicine, Neurological Surgery, Neurology, Nursing, Nutrition, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Otolaryngology, Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Pediatric Surgery, Pediatrics, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Plastic Surgery, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Radiation Oncology, Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Section of Surgical Sciences, Social Work, Surgery, Urology


AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (2.00 hours), ANCC - American Nurses Credentialing Center (2.00 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (2.00 hours)


Module One: Introduction to Peer Support: Review the goals of a peer support program Define the roles of the peer supporters i. Active Listening ii. Responding without judgement iii. Psychological debriefing Discuss the limits of confidentiality Define reasons for utilizing Peer Support Programs i. stress due to a traumatic or critical incident event ii. second victim syndrome iii. primary and secondary trauma iv. compassion fatigue Identify vulnerable career milestones Discuss methods for psychological debriefing i. Peer Support ii. Post event huddle iii. Individual coaching and counseling iv. Group Critical Incident Debriefing Review skills for coping with stress and building resilience Module Two: How to Provide Peer Support in Your Work Unit Jim Kendall, LCSW 45 minutes Review the protocols for your work unit program Define the role of the team members Prepare for the conversation Review skills for active listening i. Active Encouragers ii. Open-ended questions iii. Reflection of content iv. Empathetic response v. Clarification vi. Summarization Module 3 Exercises 12 minutes Jim Kendall, LCSW 45 minutes Critique a video clip demonstrating specific active listening techniques Share how critical incidents may impact clinicians Review available resources


ACCME Objectives
  1. Recognize signs/symptoms of provider distress following a difficult case.
  2. Offer an opportunity for struggling colleagues to talk with a non-judgmental, supportive co-worker.
  3. Describe the importance of confidentiality, when issues needs to be reported, and the benefits of critical incident stress management.
  4. Identify VUMC resources that can provide support to struggling colleagues.

ANCC Learning Outcomes
  1. At the conclusion of this activity, 80% of participants will report increased knowledge related to signs/symptoms of healthcare provider distress and the resources available to address the distress as demonstrated by course evaluation results.


Vanderbilt University Medical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nursing Education and Professional Development, is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Nursing Education and Professional Development, designates this activity for a maximum of 2.0 Contact Hours. 



Successful Nursing Contact Hour Requirements:
 • Attendance at entire event
 • Text in attendance within 72 hours of the start of the event
 • Completion of the evaluation

For assistance with profile, transcript, claiming credit or any other issues, please click For Nursing Education Support.