A theory to guide nursing students caring for patients with suicidal tendencies on psychiatric clinical practicum. (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Fan-Ko; Long, Ann; Chiang, Chun-Ying; Chou, Mei-Hsien
• Is Part Of: Nurse education in practice. Volume 38(2019)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 163
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Suicide -- Nursing students -- Psychiatric clinical practicum -- Grounded theory; Nursing -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Education, Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Study and teaching; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.73071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2019.07.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-5953

Abstract

Abstract: Research concerning this issue demonstrates that nursing students initially feared interacting with and caring for patients with suicidal tendencies. However, there is a lack of research, which examines the care that is provided to patients that are suicidal, by nursing students. The aim of this study was to develop a theory to guide nursing students when caring for patients with suicidal tendencies on their psychiatric clinical practicum. A qualitative approach using Grounded Theory was used. A total of 22 nursing students who had provided care for suicidal patients were interviewed. The core category that emerged from the data was the 'changing of mindsets towards caring for suicidal patients and promotion of suicidal care competencies'. Other key categories linked to and enfolded within this core category were: suicidal risk assessment; protecting patients' safety; and, developing therapeutic communication competencies to advance suicidal care. This study could help fill a theory-practice gap for both psychiatric nursing teachers and students. Nurse teachers could use this theory as a map to help guide students caring for patients with suicidal tendencies and develop nursing students' suicidal care competencies. Highlights: It is important for teachers to understand students' mindset toward nursing suicidal patients. Developing a theory to guide nursing students caring for patients with suicidal tendencies. Nursing students reframed their mindsets toward suicidal patients after practicum.