We have known for several years that nurses are at higher risk of suicide than the general population and that nurses have more job-related problems recorded prior to death by suicide. What we have now learned about those job-related problems is troublesome at best with implications for risk managers, hospital executives, and all leaders in healthcare. This panel will describe the issues and implications for advocacy and policy change necessary to right the wrongs leading to death by suicide amongst nurses through personal testimony and review of recent research findings.
By the end of the session, the participants will be able to:
- Identify major issues stemming from the workplace that lead to death by suicide.
- Identify institutional, professional, and individual actions that can be taken to reduce risk.
- Describe the flaws in the current system that prevent accurately tracking and action-planning to reduce risks amongst nurses.
Click here for recording and here for presentation.
Dr. Judy Davidson is a nurse scientist for the University of California San Diego. Her research focuses on workplace wellness issues such as the consequences of blame, second-victim prevention, and clinician suicide. She operationalized the first suicide prevention program for nurses which has been successfully detecting at-risk nurses and referring them into treatment for over 5 years. During the pandemic she co-led a task force through the American Nurses Association to collate resources for suicide prevention in nursing. Previously she spoke to us about her suicide prevention program and the original research which disclosed that nurses were at a higher risk of suicide than others in the general population. Today she will speak to us about the recent findings from her research on job-related issues prior to death by nurse suicide.
Ms. Koivula is a Registered Nurse and Eastern Regional Coordinator for the Statewide Peer Assistance for Nurses (SPAN) program in New York State. She is an advocate for nurses personally impacted by the disease of addiction and supports their personal as well as professional recovery. Ms. Koivula assists nurses in navigating the complexities of licensure, legal consequence, treatment and employment related issues while dually protecting public safety interests. Through her compassionate approach, she helps nurses improve their professional practice management through integration of recovery planning, prioritizing self-care, and establishing a peer network.
Dr. Manthey is the founder and President Emeritus of CHCM, a healthcare consulting company that has word with hospitals and healthcare systems around the country for over 40 years. She has taught thousands of nurses in seminars and workshops throughout the world. Marie is also a multi-award winning author. In 2015 Maris was presented with the Academy of Nursing Living Legend Award. Marie was a founder of the Nursing Peer Support Network a free standing non-profit organization providing peer based support to nurses throughout Minnesota.
Dr. Choflet is an Assistant Professor of Nursing and the Leadership Concentration Chair at San Diego State University. Currently, Dr. Choflet’s primary focus is substance use and health improvement strategies for the healthcare workforce and patients. Her previous work included system-wide practice integration, standardization of practice, and documentation, and the science of symptom management. Dr. Choflet has taught as a clinical instructor in the community and public health program in the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, where she worked with a community group that focused on homelessness, mental health, and substance use. Dr. Choflet received grant funding for her evidence-based practice work in substance use from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Centers for Disease Control.