The Joint Commission (2010) indicates that 14.25% of suicides
occur in the non-behavioural units of the general hospitals
such as medical or surgical units. Knoll (2012) indicates
that ‘inpatient suicides do occur in the medical settings and
are viewed as the most avoidable and preventable because
they occur in close proximity to staff. Therefore hospitals are
faced with adverse events when patients commit suicide.
Some patients sustain serious injuries before or may die
instantly. When suicide occurs in general hospitals, it poses
challenges to health care workers, including nurses who
witness or care for these patients before they die, as well as
the patients’ families, and hospital administrators (Knoll,
2012). The patients include those who are admitted for conditions
such as respiratory, cardio-vascular, endocrine, haematological
and renal diseases rather than mental illness.
Whilst the cause of suicide is often not known, some conditions
may lead to confusion; whilst some patients may not
accept their disease status; and therefore resort to suicide.
According to Cheng, Hu, and Tseng (2009) inpatient suicides
often have devastating effects on survivors and on staff
morale. However, there is limited literature on the experiences
of nurses who cared for patients who successfully
committed suicide in the general hospital units such as
medical wards.