The nurses feared loss of their jobs when patients
committed suicide. Their concerns were that the Department
of Health will apportion blame on them. When suicide incidents
occurred, nurses reviewed their reasons for becoming
nurses; and thoughts of reconsidering career change are
common reactions among nurses (Kneisl & Trigoboff, 2013).
However, none of the nurses indicated change of the career
except that they were more concerned about the decision that
will be taken by the employer (Department of Health) and the
regulating body (SANC) about their career. This study showed
that nurses understood the functions of the SANC and the
Department of Health, hence, their concern was about the
decisions that would be taken by the SANC and the employer.
Loss of job was their greatest fear as nurses thought of worst
decisions such as being de-registered from the SANC. It follows
that the nurses had to live with those feelings which
resulted in others being treated with anti-depressants. However,
the medications only suppressed the feelings. This indicates
the need for support for the nurses to cope with their
experiences of inpatient suicide.