Ch. 12 Suicide Flashcards
Suicide risk is higher when
patients start to get better
Risk factors for suicide:
marital status, gender, religion, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, psychiatric illness, loss of a loved one, alcoholics
marital status
The suicide rate for single persons is twice that of married persons.
greatest risk group for suicide
white men older than 80 years are at greatest risk
gender
women attempt more, men succeed more. Usually use more lethal method
religion
protective factor; decreases risk of suicide
socioeconomic status
very highest and lowest social classes more likely to commit suicide
homosexual individuals
have a higher risk of suicide
Assessments
assess all risk factors and assess if they have a plan
look to see if they have any other psychiatric diagnoses
overt clues
I want to kill myself today
covert clues
I wont have to worry about that much longer
The nurse is caring for an actively suicidal client on the psychiatric unit. What is the nurse’s priority intervention?
Place client on suicide precautions with one-to-one observation.
One to one observation
eye contact and in arms reach 100% of the time
Suicide precautions
Observe the client regularly Close to the nursing station Put with someone fairly well Always make sure they swallow each pill Look to see what visitors bring No actual silverware Finger foods No seclusion room- not where we wanna put them, more for manic Nothing to do to stop them: leather restraints
one of the most lethal medications for suicide
tylenol
