Nurse Suicide: Prevention and Grief Management

Authors and Disclosures

Judy E. Davidson, DNP, RN, MCCM, FAAN, Rachael Accardi, MA, LMFT, Courtney Sanchez, LCSW and Sidney Zisook, MD

Judy E. Davidson is a nurse scientist at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Health Sciences and a scientist in the department of psychiatry at UCSD School of Medicine. Rachel Accardi and Courtney Sanchez are program counselors in the UCSD HEAR program. Sidney Zisook is a distinguished professor in the department of psychiatry at UCSD. The authors welcome your questions about developing your own nurse suicide prevention program (email jdavidson@health.ucsd.edu).

Sidebar 1

Leadership Reflection

After a nurse's death by suicide, the bereavement team leader can coordinate and facilitate a debriefing with organizational leadership. The the following questions should be asked during the meeting:

• Did anyone see signals (from the nurse who died or related to events within the organization) that a suicide might occur?

• Has anything surfaced during debriefings that leadership should address?

• Would we do anything differently (in response to a death by suicide or to prevent suicide) in the future?

• Who else needs support and how do we best get it to them?

• Are other employees at risk for suicide?

• Did workplace stressors contribute to the suicide?

   • If so, can they be attenuated for the future?

Sidebar 2

Debriefing Feedback

Emotional debriefings offered by the Healer Education, Assessment and Referral (HEAR) suicide prevention program after stressful work-place events, allow nurses and other employees to process their feelings in a safe environment. The debriefings are evaluated using the form below.

Emotional process debriefing feedback form

Debriefing date: ______________________________

Please check your response or write in your feedback. Thank you.

1. Compared to how you felt before attending this debriefing, how do you feel now?

□ Much improved   □ Worse

□ Improved   □ Much worse

□ About the same

2. Would you have sought support for your stress without today's meeting?

□ Yes   □ No

□ Maybe   □ Not sure

3. In general, how satisfied are you with the support you received today?

□ Very satisfied   □ Very dissatisfied

□Satisfied   □ Don't know/unsure

□ Dissatisfied   □ Decline to answer

4. Would you recommend debriefings like these to others?

□ Yes   □ No

5. Is there any feedback you would like to share?