Nurses’ responses to suicide and suicidal patients: a critical interpretive synthesis*

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To provide an inclusive understanding of nurses' responses to suicide and suicidal patients that can benefit nursing practice and guide research. The question was 'What is a critical interpretive synthesis of accumulated nursing research on nurses' responses to suicide and suicidal patients?' BACKGROUND: Various studies address nurses' responses to suicide and suicidal patients. An understanding of accumulated research-based literature about nurses' responses to suicide and suicidal patients may guide nurses to care for suicidal patients in ways that facilitate suicide prevention and recovery. DESIGN: The design is reflexive and iterative. METHOD: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis was conducted, which comprised of six phases: formulating the review question, searching the literature, sampling, determining quality, extracting data and conducting an interpretive synthesis. Qualitative content analysis and systematic review of literature was included in these phases. RESULTS: The results report the review question, literature review strategies, purposive sample (26 full-text studies published in peer reviewed journals, 1988-July 2009, conducted mostly in Europe and North American), quality determinants, data extraction into themes and an interpretive synthesis of four key concepts, i.e. critical reflection, attitudes, complex knowledge/professional role responsibilities, desire for support services/resources. CONCLUSION: This understanding of accumulated research-based literature enhances contextual, conceptual and methodological perspectives. Contextually, gaps exist in international research. Conceptually, the four key concepts can serve as a useful guide for nurses to understand their own and other nurses' responses to caring for suicidal patients in various settings. Methodologically, the Critical Interpretive Synthesis approach moved a small body of knowledge that varied in quality measures beyond an aggregate understanding. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Understanding nurses' responses to suicide and suicidal patients may guide nurses to care for suicidal patients in ways that facilitate suicide prevention and recovery, thus addressing the urgent work of suicide prevention in the world.