Question

The psychiatric–mental health nurse must thoroughly assess and document encounters with suicidal patients. Describe nursing techniques used to assess lethality of a patient’s thoughts of suicide?

Answer 1

Nursing techniques to assess the lethality of a patient's s thoughts of suicide:

1.Assessment of the factors which may be psychological, emotional or environmental which triggers the patient's motivation of suicide .

2.Assessment of the recent or a long duration influence for suicidal thoughts.

3.Information about the safety measures which should be adopted in the patient's surrounding. The patient may harm self or others using any sharp or dangerous things.

4.Careful and regular documentation of the patient's report of suicidal risk assessment and past relevant medical and personal history.