Suicide risk assessment and management needs of pre-examination and triage nurses in emergency departments: A qualitative study.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the barriers and management needs of pre-examination and triage nurses in emergency departments in assessing suicide risk of patients.

Methods: Using descriptive phenomenology, this study performed semi-structured in-depth interviews with nurses in emergency departments of two third grade Class-A hospitals in Baoding City from September 10 to October 1, 2023. The thematic analysis of phenomenological data was conducted using Colaizzi's seven steps analysis method.

Results: According to the interview with 14 nurses, this study identified three themes and nine sub-themes, including identifying suicide risk characteristics of patients (suicide and self-injurious behaviors, psychological and mental state, medical history and life experience), barriers in assessing suicide risk of patients (suicide stigmatization, uncertainty of responsibility, and occupational psychological stress of nurses), and suicide risk management needs (concise and effective suicide risk assessment process, knowledge and skills training on suicide prevention, and organizational support).

Conclusion: The suicide risk assessment of patients in emergency pre-examination and triage should be further optimized from the aspects of organizational management and clinical practice, such as improving resource allocation, establishing emergency suicide risk assessment workflow, and developing training programs to improve the overall suicide prevention literacy and management ability of pre-examination and triage nurses in emergency departments.