Suicide in Psych Ward

adrienurse, LPN · Nov 7, 2002

OMG. I really feel for the nurses on that unit. The feelings of guilt must be terrible. The last unit I worked on had a suicide a few months before I had arrived and everybody was so shell shocked. The facility did not handle the situation well at all. Nurses special people who are plagued with a lot of self blame -- and this is the worst sort of thinf to happen to them.

CliveUK · Nov 7, 2002

Nursing staff should not be expected to do gun searches. This is clearly the responsibility of the police. So, no, the hospital couldn't possibly be taken to task for this. If they were, it would be a travesty.

emily_mom · Nov 7, 2002

I will keep you all posted on what happens with this. They are still investigating.

mumseyllama · Feb 4, 2003

Our staff are all required to do a cursory search of the client even when security staff has already done so. We do not, however, require that the patient remove all clothing so that we may check it (as has been required at other facilities where I have worked and which results in a much safer environment). We never do body cavity checks. Our clients, even on our locked unit, are allowed out for breaks with an MD's order, and are not searched when coming back although they are asked if they've brought back contraband. Some are not honest.

The bottom line is that we can't keep everyone safe. We are limited by societal and institutional mores but we sure try our best.

ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2003

That is not only devastating for the nurses, but if I were employed at that hospital, I would fear for my life! If this man was able to pull out a gun and kill himself, what is to say that the "next time" this happens, the person won't, instead, shoot his nurse? It's just really scary to me!

OBNURSEHEATHER · Feb 4, 2003

Originally posted by emily_mom
I had thought briefly about working in psych, but if the police can't stop someone from bringing in guns.....

But who stops them from bringing guns into the med/surg or OB floors? Point is, we're not safe anywhere, I don't feel it's unique to psych.

So this thread is pretty old, any updates?

Heather

oramar · Feb 4, 2003

ShandyLynn and Heather make good points. The guy was just suicidal in this case, many of them are homicidal as well. Perhaps the industry should start making metal detectors a requirement. Patting people down for firearms should be way outside the job descriptions for nurses. I am afraid the nurses could get blamed because that is what usually happens. However, as far as I am concerned they are legally, morally and ethically innocent of any wrong doing.

renerian, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2003

That happened only once in the over 6 years I worked at the hospital in Toledo. Was gruesome and upsetting for everyone. WE were in lockdown.

renerian

l.rae · Feb 4, 2003

in our ER, psych pts are required to undress to their underwear and all personal belongings are kept at the nurses station. Last year another area hosp had as suicide by GSW in the ER....the pt refused to undress and the nurse was summoning the security officers when the man shot himself.....the previous hosp l worked at, a man broke in the lobby after hours with a sawed off shot gun and went to a med-surg floor and pulled the gun on a nurse cause he was unhappy about some aspect of care a family member was getting.......this was not an inner city setting....not a place you would expect this to happen......

how sad for this man and his family...but l agree with the poster who questioned the safety of the nurses...scarey!

plumrn, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2003

I'm beginning to think all hospitals should have metal detectors and some kind of security 24hrs/day. We have had several incidents the last few years with pts and visitors, that were unnerving. Had a few patients that were belligerant, hostile and made physical threats. Had a physician angry because we didn't tackle a pt that was hostile and threatening to leave (and did finally leave). We told him we were not trained at the police academy or with a swat team, and didn't have the protective gear they have, or tear gas, batons, guns, or other means of keeping him from harming us. The only security we have is to call the local police dept. and wait for them to arrive. We have code yellows (security code), but seems like 80% of the employees are middle aged women.

We've had a few incidents of druggies wandering the halls looking for drugs. One was followed outside and he broke into one of the employees cars on the lot using a hammer, as a group of nurses watched. He didn't leave, even tho the nurses were yelling the police were on the way. He was so desperate, he continued rummaging the car until the police showed up and he had guns pointed at him. Luckily, he was taken away in custody.

duckie · Feb 4, 2003

If a person is going to commit suicide, they will find a way to do it no matter what precautions are taken. I work LTC and we had a lady use her scissors to cut out a screen and jumped 3 floors to her death, landing on cement. She was A & O x's 3, so who would have thought her craft scissors would be the means to her end. At the last facility I worked at, a resident was accidently found to have 2 very large knives stashed in his closet.(by the houskeeper) He had mental problems and believe me, we were all wiped out at this one. No matter how safe you try to be, family bring things in, folks are very inventive at doing and getting what they want. No, I very much doubt this hospital can be held liable for this, especially if they are allowed to wear their own clothes and roam free at times. Keep us posted on the outcome.