Post by Admin on Oct 22, 2021 16:16:01 GMT
A recently published article in the Archives of Psychiatric Nursing illustrates the importance of authentic, empathic, and compassionate interpersonal engagement between mental health nurses and service users in psychiatric in-patient settings for adults amid suicidal crises.
Their results highlight that, in some cases, the relationship between the suicidal person and the nurse may even be life-saving for the suicidal person.
“Many patients encountered compassion and involvement for the first time during their suicidal crises. They found it remarkable that nurses did not immediately judge or condemn them but instead initiated contact, showed respect, and supported them in bearing their suffering. When considering this engagement as genuine, this enabled patients to take cautious steps toward building trust and developing hope for a life that is not consumed by their suicidal crises,” the authors write.
“They appeared to be worth investing in and accepted for who they are, instead of being a burden or ‘a nobody who attempted suicide.’ Building trust and connecting with nurses who acknowledged their suffering was meaningful and for some patients a reason not to attempt suicide.”
The Underappreciated Role of Compassionate Nurses in Mental Healthcare
Qualitative research from Europe reveals the important role that empathic mental health nurses play for adults in suicidal crisis.
By Samantha Lilly -October 22, 2021
www.madinamerica.com/2021/10/underappreciated-role-compassionate-nurses-mental-healthcare/
Engagement between adults in suicidal crises and nurses in mental health wards: a qualitative study of patients' perspectives.
Vandewalle J1, Van Hoe C2, Debyser B3, Deproost E4, Verhaeghe S4
Author information
Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 19 Jul 2021, 35(5):541-548
DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2021.07.011 PMID: 34561071
europepmc.org/article/med/34561071
Abstract
Objective
To understand how patients in suicidal crises perceive their engagement with nurses in mental hospitals.
Methods
A qualitative study based on grounded theory was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were used with 11 hospitalised adults living through suicidal crises. The data were analysed by multiple researchers, using the constant comparison method, coding, and memo writing.
Findings
The core process was: 'Feeling nurtured through an interpersonal engagement'. This process underpinned two categories: 'Feeling safe and cared for while struggling to trust' and 'Working toward alleviation and change of my suicidal ideation'. The patients valued nurses who integrated caring approaches of building trust, demonstrating compassion, and promoting safety, with healing approaches of helping them to express and explore their suicidal ideations, and develop new insights and ways of coping. This interpersonal engagement could nurture patients' feelings of being accepted and understood, and being hopeful and capable of overcoming their suicidal ideations.
Conclusion
The conceptual insights can inform strategies to reframe overly instrumental approaches to prevent suicide and treat suicidal ideation, and instead promote an interpersonal orientation in nursing practice that integrates caring-healing approaches.
Their results highlight that, in some cases, the relationship between the suicidal person and the nurse may even be life-saving for the suicidal person.
“Many patients encountered compassion and involvement for the first time during their suicidal crises. They found it remarkable that nurses did not immediately judge or condemn them but instead initiated contact, showed respect, and supported them in bearing their suffering. When considering this engagement as genuine, this enabled patients to take cautious steps toward building trust and developing hope for a life that is not consumed by their suicidal crises,” the authors write.
“They appeared to be worth investing in and accepted for who they are, instead of being a burden or ‘a nobody who attempted suicide.’ Building trust and connecting with nurses who acknowledged their suffering was meaningful and for some patients a reason not to attempt suicide.”
The Underappreciated Role of Compassionate Nurses in Mental Healthcare
Qualitative research from Europe reveals the important role that empathic mental health nurses play for adults in suicidal crisis.
By Samantha Lilly -October 22, 2021
www.madinamerica.com/2021/10/underappreciated-role-compassionate-nurses-mental-healthcare/
Engagement between adults in suicidal crises and nurses in mental health wards: a qualitative study of patients' perspectives.
Vandewalle J1, Van Hoe C2, Debyser B3, Deproost E4, Verhaeghe S4
Author information
Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 19 Jul 2021, 35(5):541-548
DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2021.07.011 PMID: 34561071
europepmc.org/article/med/34561071
Abstract
Objective
To understand how patients in suicidal crises perceive their engagement with nurses in mental hospitals.
Methods
A qualitative study based on grounded theory was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were used with 11 hospitalised adults living through suicidal crises. The data were analysed by multiple researchers, using the constant comparison method, coding, and memo writing.
Findings
The core process was: 'Feeling nurtured through an interpersonal engagement'. This process underpinned two categories: 'Feeling safe and cared for while struggling to trust' and 'Working toward alleviation and change of my suicidal ideation'. The patients valued nurses who integrated caring approaches of building trust, demonstrating compassion, and promoting safety, with healing approaches of helping them to express and explore their suicidal ideations, and develop new insights and ways of coping. This interpersonal engagement could nurture patients' feelings of being accepted and understood, and being hopeful and capable of overcoming their suicidal ideations.
Conclusion
The conceptual insights can inform strategies to reframe overly instrumental approaches to prevent suicide and treat suicidal ideation, and instead promote an interpersonal orientation in nursing practice that integrates caring-healing approaches.