The Actual Conditions and Correlates of How Emergency Department Nurses Care for Patients Who Self-Harm Themselves Deliberately

Abstract

Aim: To describe the actual condition of care toward patients with deliberate self-harm (DSH) by emergency department nurses (EDN), and to reveal the correlates to the care recommended in previous literatures. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 1,000 Japanese EDN with a year or longer of experience and 262 (26.2%) responded. Results: The EDN tried to save DSH and to listen to them carefully, although they often avoided contact with DSH. Half of the EDN inquired into the reasons for self-harm, and 30% confirmed the presence of suicidal thoughts. The amount of effort to increase help-seeking tendencies among the EDN was associated with the experiences in DSH care, the experience of training in DSH care in emergency departments, motivation towards DSH care, feeling less anxious about DSH, and the ability to disclose their own feelings to their coworkers in DSH care. Conclusions: Learning skills previously recommended and improving the conditions of DSH care in hospitals will reduce anxiety with inducement to DSH care. In addition, it may also promote more appropriate care to DSH from EDN.