Managing the risk of suicide in a psychiatry clinic: An ethnographic study on the work atmosphere of nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the approaches of nurses working in an inpatient psychiatry clinic during the pandemic period to managing suicide risk in the context of their work atmosphere. This ethnographic research design used a sample of 13 psychiatric nurses in a psychiatric clinic in Ankara, Turkey. Data were collected with in-depth interviews and 612h of observation. Qualitative thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Two themes emerged from the data analysis, including ‘De-prioritizing the uniqueness of the patient in managing suicide risk’ and ‘A condition that remains important for uniqueness: personality disorders’. The current risk assessment methods for suicide, pandemic measures, and past inadequacies in the approach to patients with personality disorders have revealed the risk of alienating from the individual risk factors as well as the patients' history in risk management. Risk management practices that consider the psychosocial assets of patients at risk of suicide, addressing the risk level with a safe measurement scale and performing triage according to this grading system can provide an atmosphere that allows nurses to make risk assessments greater self-confidence.