SUICIDE IN NURSING PRACTICE T = Talk It is okay to talk about…

Question Answered step-by-step SUICIDE IN NURSING PRACTICE T = Talk It is okay to talk about… SUICIDE IN NURSING PRACTICET = Talk It is okay to talk about suicide, it reduces stigma and can support the person towards recovery. Research shows it can be a huge relief for them to share their thoughts. A = Ask Be direct – ask the person: ‘Are you thinking about suicide?’ By using the word suicide, you are telling the person it is okay to talk openly about their thoughts with you. If your intuition tells you suicide could be an option for the person, ask the question. This can be a scary conversation for the suicidal person and for the nurse on the precipice of asking the question and fearing what to do with the response. There is no evidence asking about suicide leads to suicide. Another approach is to ask: ‘Sometimes when people feel like you describe, they think about suicide. Is it like this for you?’ L = Listen If someone is suicidal, listen to what they need to say and allow them to express their feelings. Use prompts such as: ‘It sounds as though things are really hard at the moment. Can you tell me a bit more?’ or ‘It must be so painful for you to feel like there is no way out. I want to listen and help.’ People carry stories that brought them to this point; be curious and ask open-ended questions to keep them talking, such as: ‘Tell me more about that’. Summarize what the person has said to show you have understood and encourage them to keep talking. Showing care and compassion is essential for engagement and a meaningful encounter. K = Keep safe Reassure the person they are not alone, and you can look for support together. Express this by saying: ‘It’s not uncommon to have thoughts of suicide. With help and support many people can work through these thoughts and stay safe. Let us do this together.’If the person has shared that they have plans and are at immediate risk of death, follow emergency procedures and local policy and keep communicating with the person. Ask if there is anyone you can to contact to support them. If the risk to life is not immediate, tell the person you care about their safety and that you can work together to make a safety plan. Ask questions such as: ‘What will get you through this moment?’ and explore situations that make the person safer. This means the person is no longer alone with their thoughts. ****How can this be applied to nursing practice for a new nurse???What benefits does it contribute? How can you help patients with this information?How can you help the community with this information? Health Science Science Nursing NURS 11 Share QuestionEmailCopy link Comments (0)