Casualty nurses' attitudes to attempted suicide

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Attempted suicide presents complex challenges for casualty nurses.
• Understanding nurses' attitudes is crucial for effective patient care and support.
• Limited research exists on factors influencing casualty nurses' attitudes in Northern Ireland.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the attitudes of casualty nurses towards attempted suicide.
• To investigate the influence of nurses' age and length of experience on these attitudes.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based survey was distributed to 142 casualty nurses across 11 hospitals in Northern Ireland.
• A response rate of 66.9% was achieved.
• Statistical analysis examined the relationship between age, experience, and attitudes.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in attitudes were found in relation to nurses' age (four variables) and length of experience (two variables).
• Older and more experienced nurses demonstrated more positive attitudes compared to their younger, less experienced counterparts.
• These findings suggest a correlation between professional experience and empathetic responses.

Conclusions:

• Age and experience are significant factors influencing casualty nurses' attitudes toward attempted suicide.
• Further nursing research in Northern Ireland is recommended to validate these findings.
• Recommendations for improved nursing practice and support systems are proposed.