Nurses’ Experiences of Patient Suicide in Two Psychiatric Wards:

Focusing on the Organizational and Cultural Contexts of the Ward Team

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to clarify nurses’ experiences of psychiatric inpatient suicides, focusing on the organizational and cultural contexts of the ward team. Methods: This study used ethnography and predominantly collected data from interviews and fieldwork conducted at two wards in two hospitals, where there had been cases of suicide by inpatients. Results: Four themes, including “surprise and shock” and “guilt and regret” were identified for nurses’ experiences and three themes, including “experience not shared among nurses” and “deepening feeling of isolation and inferiority” were identified for the situation of Ward Team A. Five themes, including “surprise” and “searching for convincing reasons” were identified for nurses’ experiences and two themes, including “information and experiences shared among nurses” were identified for the situation of Ward Team B. Conclusions: Inpatient suicide affects individual nurses and the entire ward team. This problem should be regarded as not only concerning individuals, but also the entire group. Furthermore, support measures including the utilization of third parties are necessary, and a consciousness of the team dynamics should be regularly maintained.