suicide of patient on unit

christymwinn · Sep 15, 2006

finn fab,

so sorry to hear about your experience! I have never been in a situation like that myself, but I would tell you to take every advantage of talking iwth someone. If your work makes a professional counselor or psychologist available, I think it would help you alot.

Christine

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Sep 15, 2006

I'm very sorry, finn fab.

rn/writer, RN · Sep 15, 2006

Your employer absolutely needs to have some kind of debriefing for everyone involved. There should be a formal investigation and a policy review with the goal of preventing this kind of event from ever occurring again. And there should also be a critical incident stress debriefing to handle the thoughts and emotions of the staff on your unit.

How are the other patients reacting? They need some kind of attention and acknowledgement as well.

Your unit manager should not let this become the elephant in the room that no one will talk about.

Trauma Columnist · Sep 15, 2006

I am so sorry. This is so sad for the staff and the family.

Melina · Sep 15, 2006

Sorry sorry to hear! I started out as a volunteer in an inpatient facility, and my second week we had a pt hand himself. One of the other pts found him. I know they had a debriefing with staff and patients, but when I came back the day after, everyone seemed unwilling to discuss it. What I had to cope with personally was that I hadn't checked in with this pt like I had planned the last time I was there. He was new, and I always tried to spend a little time with the pts I didn't know. I don't blame myself, or any other staff, but it was hard.

Rn/writer is right about the investigation. Some places bring in grief counselors to work with staff/patients. Take care.

~Mel'

finn_fab · Sep 15, 2006

there was a helpful debriefing for all involved (critical incident stress response)...I'm meaning in terms of returning to work and how to feel good about the job again...it's still very fresh.

rn/writer, RN · Sep 15, 2006

Formal debriefing is only a first step. The usual reaction of people who have been involved in something traumatic is that they need to talk about it repeatedly for a little while. If that need is met, it begins to recede. Even still, it will likely crop up again from time to time.

Here are some other suggestions. Write about your feelings. Write down some of the "what ifs" and "if onlies," that keep going through your mind and then work on letting them go.

Do some exploration, either alone or with coworkers or others with similar experiences of loss.

Are you angry with yourselves or with the patient for doing this to himself and all of you? That's one emotion that often gets suppressed because it seems so wrong.

Are you fearful that this might happen again? Help each other talk through both the emotions of this and ideas for prevention.

Do your best to keep other things on an even keel. Try to eat and sleep right. Exercise. Stay away from alcohol and other numbing agents for a bit.

Remember to have some fun. Grieving and recovery do not have to be a full time job. In fact, it's better if they are not. Unrelieved immersion clouds your perspective and can lead to a slow, subtle decline into depression.

Keeping confidentiality in mind, confide in your family and friends. They don't need to know particular details about this patient. What they DO need is to hear how it's affecting you and what they can do to be helpful and supportive.

If you are stuck at first with feeling and expressing emotions, look for books or music or films that might help you get over the hump. Sometimes, having a good cry or a good mad over a movie opens the gates, even if it seems unrelated to the subject at hand.

Be good to yourselves and each other. Listen to those who want to talk. Realize that you're all kind of bruised and battered right now and try hard to build each other up with kindness and gentle humor.

This will get better.

Please let us know how you are all doing.

fgoff · Sep 15, 2006

This is a hard thing to deal with! I'm sorry for you & your unit! It has happened here before. I feel with you.

Don't forget that if your unit is not able to do formal critical stress debreifing that your EAP can help as well.

In my thoughts!:icon_hug:

CametoitlateTexan · Sep 15, 2006

Formal debriefing is only a first step. The usual reaction of people who have been involved in something traumatic is that they need to talk about it repeatedly for a little while. If that need is met, it begins to recede. Even still, it will likely crop up again from time to time.
Here are some other suggestions. Write about your feelings. Write down some of the "what ifs" and "if onlies," that keep going through your mind and then work on letting them go.
Do some exploration, either alone or with coworkers or others with similar experiences of loss.
Are you angry with yourselves or with the patient for doing this to himself and all of you? That's one emotion that often gets suppressed because it seems so wrong.
Are you fearful that this might happen again? Help each other talk through both the emotions of this and ideas for prevention.
Do your best to keep other things on an even keel. Try to eat and sleep right. Exercise. Stay away from alcohol and other numbing agents for a bit.
Remember to have some fun. Grieving and recovery do not have to be a full time job. In fact, it's better if they are not. Unrelieved immersion clouds your perspective and can lead to a slow, subtle decline into depression.
Keeping confidentiality in mind, confide in your family and friends. They don't need to know particular details about this patient. What they DO need is to hear how it's affecting you and what they can do to be helpful and supportive.
If you are stuck at first with feeling and expressing emotions, look for books or music or films that might help you get over the hump. Sometimes, having a good cry or a good mad over a movie opens the gates, even if it seems unrelated to the subject at hand.
Be good to yourselves and each other. Listen to those who want to talk. Realize that you're all kind of bruised and battered right now and try hard to build each other up with kindness and gentle humor.
This will get better.
Please let us know how you are all doing.

This is all great advice. Most people don't recognize a traumatic event as a wound, but it is. There are many helpful interventions, all of which can assist in the healing process.

finn_fab · Sep 16, 2006

thanks for the suggestions...there are many helpful ones! as an update, the fellow is still alive; they have attempted him off the respirator and had to intubate him again due to stridor...but he is responding to staff up in ICU, and it seems he may survive fully.

MissPiggy · Sep 20, 2006

2 years ago I found one of my pts. hanging in his shower, beyond any help. Since I lost a brother to suicide as well 15 years ago, I went to one of the staff psychiatrists, who was only too happy to help. Our counselors also offered to help us. Although I will always think of it when I go into that room, it has receded quite a bit. I urge you to seek professional help or take advantage of what your employer offers and follow what they recommend so that you can avoid PTSD which is a very real possibility.

Above all else, know that if a pt. really wants to do it, they WILL find a way, so never blame yourself. Good luck and take care of yourself - you have been through a traumatic incident and you need time to heal.