Feelings & Reactions of Emergency Room Nurses Toward Suicide Attempters

To describe the feelings of emergency room nurses toward suicidal attempters & the evolution of the processes nurses undergo in dealing with suicidal persons, a 25-item questionnaire was administered. The majority revealed feelings of frustration, anger & helplessness, but with repeated exposure to suicide attempters, empathy & concern replaced these feelings. Most nurses believed they were effective in providing immediate physical care, but not psychological or emotional support. (RM)