Abstract
Psychiatric nurses need different methods to meet suicidal problems in a professional way. They frequently use no-suicide or suicide-preventive contracts when dealing with suicidal patients, but there are few empirical studies about this method. One study (9) has explored why psychiatric nurses use contracts as a therapeutic tool. The aim of this article is to discuss some results from that study after a broader analysis of the patterns in the empirical material.
Data were collected through qualitative in-depth interviews. Four psychiatric nurses were strategically selected for this purpose. Kvale's principles have guided the interviews, analysis and interpretation.
Four patterns emerged from the empirical data: Contracts are seen as (1) a framework for the actions of patients and nurses; (2) a tool for assessing suicidal risk; (3) a tool for establishing the therapeutic alliance; (4) a way to increase awareness of the suicidal problem, but also of life and opportunities, an aspect less emphasised in the literature.
Working professionally with suicide-prevention contracts in clinical nursing requires knowledge, working with attitudes, formal training and guidance. The ability of the patients to work with a contract and their experience of working with one must also be evaluated.