SUICIDE - A STATEMENT OF SUFFERING

This article is designed to focus on the provision of nursing care in general medical wards following the admission of persons who have atte mpted suicide or who have a previous history of attempting suicide. Th e authors explore, analyse and synthesize how nurses, as key players i n the health care team, may begin by recognizing the uniqueness of the individual, and by cotravelling therapeutically with the person on pa rt of his or her journey towards recovery and healing. Efforts are mad e to demonstrate how nurses can influence the health gain of this grou p of people and their families. Professional attitudes and related eth ical aspects, such as autonomy, respect for autonomy and paternalism, are also examined within the context of the nursing care of people who have attempted suicide. The need to enhance sensitive and caring comm unication skills for nurses who work with this group of people is tent atively considered. Some reasoning about why there may be difficulties in specific areas of communication such as empathy are contested and explored.