Suicide on unit

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hey everyone!

Unfortunately there has been a suicide on my unit where I work. I work at an adult Mental Health unit... i was one of the nurses taking care of this patient, I was not working the shift that she did this. I am distraught.. this lady was not one of our "typical" mental health patients.... No one ever suspected her of this......... A code blue was called and they revived her but unfortuntaly she is brain dead and its only a matter of time until they unplug her. She has no family or friends.

Has any one else been in this kind of situation??????

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Never been in this situation, but am so sorry that it happened. Take care of yourself. Do you have any support people that you can talk to?

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Not directly, but know of someone who suicided at a facility. And I know the family. It's terribly sad. I'm sorry you and your co-workers and the other patients are having to deal with this...and whoever found her. :heartbeat

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Specializes in CVSICU, Cardiac Cath Lab.

I haven't been in this situation, but take care of yourself and your co-workers. I know this will be a tough time. *hug*

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Specializes in ICU.

What is a typical mental health patient?

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Specializes in NICU.

Before I worked at my hospital a man came in and shot his wife (the patient) and then himself. Very sad and scary situation. So sorry you are having to deal with this.

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i don't care who the person is, where they are, why they did it, etc.

it's something that kicks everyone of us in the gut.

i do hope those directly involved, get the help they need...

and that your dept is understanding and patient.

i just don't know what to say about a trauma such as this.

such a waste, where all are affected.

i do hope this woman has found her peace.

and op, take this time to pamper yourself.

feel better.

leslie

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

yes.

when i was a junior in my first (non nursing) degree, i had a component of an advanced psych course, a service requirement of 200 hours. i was assigned to a va psych hospital. i spent 100 hours on a locked

ward of viet nam vets who were substance abusers of varying types.

one of the men assigned to me was a charming, charismatic, nice looking guy, who despite all his issues, thought he had the world by the tail. when any of the younger nurses or female college students

walked by him, he'd call out, "hey good lookin'! kiss me like you really mean it!" by the end of his first week, it was sooo annoying. nothing made him stop, so we tried our best to ignore the behavior but not the person.

eventually my semester ended.

fast forward ten years to my new job at the state mental hospital. i went to my assigned building, and as i was meeting my preceptor, getting my assignment, etc. i. heard. that. voice. "kiss me like you mean

it, baby!"

he was adjudicated sane (enough?) to be tried in a court of law, found not guilty by reason of insanity of his crime, and was to be transferred to the state hospital for the criminally insane but killed himself before the transfer could occur.

i still feel awful two decades later.

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Hey everyone!

Unfortunately there has been a suicide on my unit where I work. I work at an adult Mental Health unit... i was one of the nurses taking care of this patient, I was not working the shift that she did this. I am distraught.. this lady was not one of our "typical" mental health patients.... No one ever suspected her of this......... A code blue was called and they revived her but unfortuntaly she is brain dead and its only a matter of time until they unplug her. She has no family or friends.

Has any one else been in this kind of situation??????

I'm so sorry, this happened to you and your co-workers. How are you and the patients on the unit taking it. How do you process this? Has it caused your co-workers to feel angry, sad, ????

I had a near miss because a smart Psych Tech took a walk down the hall, "just cuz I felt like I should." She found the pt with a plastic trash can liner around his head, and he was blue, she ripped it open, yelled for help and by the time I got up the hall he was pink, breathing and concious...and mad.

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Specializes in Psych.

At our facility our employee health actually has programs to help with stuff like this. You may not need it at all but if you feel you might you may want to contact them.

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Specializes in Infusion, Med/Surg/Tele, Outpatient.
At our facility our employee health actually has programs to help with stuff like this. You may not need it at all but if you feel you might you may want to contact them.

Ditto the above, call your employee assistance program {EAP}. This has happened at my employer, it was tough all the way around, from employee's feelings to the blame game to peer review to state board investigations to all new policies. Hopefully your director and manager will lead with integrity and tact.

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Specializes in school/home health/behavioral/prison.

I'm so sorry to hear this...

Although I have not been directly involved, I have worked on units that have had suicidal incidents and

I have also heard about our patients being discharged and then

committing suicide shortly afterword. And I have worked directly where it has been a near miss situation as well.

I have also been in this situation with a very close immediate family member. I do know

how disturbing this can be and how difficult it can be to cope with. My suggestion would be to look into your employment benefits

and see if your employer offers EAP services(Employee Assistance Program) Sometimes there are 5 free visits that are available.

They can offer counseling -and that can be very helpful at a time like this.

My deepest sympathies to you, your co-workers, and your patients~

I pray that inner peace can be found for all of you.

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