Citation

Holdsworth N, Belshaw D, Murray S. J. Psychiatr. Ment. Health Nurs. 2001; 8(5): 449-458.

Affiliation

University of Northumbria at Newcastle & Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust, St George's Hospital, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 2NU, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11882166

Abstract

Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments and Medical Admission Units (MAUs) are an essential part of emergency mental health care in the UK. Deliberate self-harm and attempted suicide are particular challenges to nursing staff in such departments. Two registered mental nurses with experience of education facilitated a series of workshops with nurses from four A&E departments, two Minor Injuries Units and two MAUs. These were focused upon the assessment and management of deliberate self-harm and attempted suicide. During the workshops, participants provided systematic information on presentations of deliberate self-harm and attempted suicide, and on their professional responses to such presentations. These accounts provided invaluable information on deliberate self-harm and attempted suicide as seen by nursing staff in A&E and MAUs. Critical reflection upon nursing responses to these presentations revealed particular concerns nurses had relating to their experience with this client group which might inform future practice. Evaluation of the workshops indicated a subsequent decrease in work-related stress, which was probably a consequence of improved professional coping responses by the nurses concerned.

Language: en