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Welcome
Nurse |
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"It
can be easy to overlook the risk of suicide, especially
in the elderly, but it is more common than you might think.
As nurses we have to remember to look at the total
person. We might be seeing a senior for some type of
routine follow up for a known physical condition, but if
we look more fully, the signs of depression, unresolved
grief, or hopelessness may be there."
-Anonymous
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse
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There
is an epidemic of suicidal behavior
Every
18 minutes someone in the United States ends his or her life
by suicide. While it is a fairly well publicized fact that
suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among youths and
young adults age 10-24, it is also the 5th leading cause of
death among men aged 55-64 and the 9th leading cause among
both men and women aged 55-64 of all races (Reference 1).
Observe,
assess, and act
Nurses
often find themselves asking the question “is there something
else going on?” In the course of their daily work, nurses
may see clients who describe one set of symptoms, but present
with something different. Regardless of whether you work in
a hospital, physician's office, school, long term care facility,
or mental health agency, you may be the first to pick up on
an underlying concern that is indicative of an increased risk
for suicide.
As
a Nurse you are in a unique role to:
- Observe
changes in the affect (mood and behaviors) of
your clients
- Detect
changes in the physical health and well being
of your clients
- Help
clients to recognize that the source of their
physical problems or changes in their affect may be depression
or some other mental health concern
- Use
facilitative communication and the therapeutic
nurse-client relationship to offer hope by letting clients
know that he or she does not have to feel this way and that
you can assist them to find the help that they need
- Implement
a crisis intervention plan in your place of work
to ensure appropriate and timely care for your clients who
are having a suicidal crisis
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| References
for Nurse Introduction |
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By
better understanding how to assess the symptoms of depression
and the associated factors for potential for harm to self,
nurses can help to determine a client's risk for suicide.
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What
to do to help as a Nurse
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As
a nurse, you are in a key role to observe clients within the
inpatient therapeutic milieu and observe atypical behaviors
- from acting out to withdrawing and destructive or aggressive
acts toward themselves or others. In other clinical settings,
nurses are instrumental in discriminating inconsistent assessment
findings. Take note, and take action.
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What
education is available for a Nurse
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| There
is a wide array of resources specifically geared for helping
individuals within the population that you are working who may
be at risk for suicide. As a nurse, you may be asked to help
clients, family members, or co-workers find resources to help
meet their educational needs. |
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What
researchers are doing of interest to Nurses
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| Improved
practices and new treatments are being consistently discovered
through research that can help nurses to better work with clients
who are at risk for suicide |
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| What
other resources are available for Nurses |
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are some resources that do not easily “fit” into any specific
category. Suicide prevention resources are compiled that
are specific to your interests as a Nurse. |
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| Nurse
as intermediary pages were last updated May 3, 2004 |
