The research question examined in this study was what understandings are revealed in texts about consolation & psychiatric nurses’ responses to suicidal patients? A Gadamerian approach guided reinterpretations of published texts. Through synthesizing 4 interpretive phrases, a comprehensive interpretation emerged. This revealed being “at home” with self, or an ethical way of being, as a hermeneutic understanding of a way to become ready to mediate consolation with suicidal patients. Trustworthiness was addressed by means of the qualities of auditability, credibility, & confirmability. (21 refs.)