A deductive thematic analysis of nurses with job-related problems who completed suicide during the early COVID-19 pandemic: A preliminary report

Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. 2023 Mar 29. doi: 10.1111/wvn.12640. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Prior to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, nurses died by suicide more frequently than the general population. Antecedents prior to death include known job problems, such as disciplinary action; diversion of medications; inability to work due to chronic pain; and physical and mental illness.AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the suicide experience of nurses who died with known job-related problems during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to what has been previously described.METHOD: Deductive reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze narratives of nurses with known job problems who died by suicide from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Violent Death Reporting System.RESULTS: Forty-three nurses with known job-related problems completed suicide between March and December 2020. Factors associated with death were similar to previous findings with notable exceptions, increased prevalence of suicidal ideation and post-traumatic stress prior to the event. Pandemic-specific issues were noted including reduction in hours, fear of disease transmission, civil unrest, and grief-related trauma.LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Suicide prevention programs need to address both institutional and individual factors associated with nurse suicide. As previously recommended, transitions into retirement and job loss are vulnerable times...
Source: Cancer Control - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research