The psychological processes voiced by nursing students when caring for suicidal patients during their psychiatric clinical practicum: A qualitative study

Aims and objectives This study was designed to explore the psychological processes experienced by nursing students caring for suicidal patients during their first psychiatric clinical practicum. Background Nursing students expressed fear when caring for patients who presented with suicidal behaviours. Yet, there is a lack of research exploring nursing students' feelings and thoughts when caring for suicidal patients. Design A grounded theory study. Methods A theoretical sample of 22 undergraduate nursing students who had cared for suicidal patients for at least 5 days during their psychiatric clinical practicum. Data were collected from 2016–2017, in three universities in Taiwan, using a semi‐structured interview and constant comparative analysis. COREQ reporting guidelines were utilised. Results Four categories emerged depicting the psychological processes and revealing that the student nurses navigated four phases when caring for patients exhibiting suicidal behaviours. The phases were as follows: (a) apprehension and fear: involving students being frightened about patients attempting suicide; (b) frustration and powerlessness: concerning students finding it challenging to focus on changing patients' suicidal ideations; (c) support and catharsis: covering the students having to ask for psychological support from other people and explore their painful emotions; (d) confidence and empathy: meaning that the students incorporated enhanced confidence and cultivated advanced empathy, leading to the integration of competent care competencies towards suicidal patients. Conclusions Findings could help nursing teachers to understand students' psychological processes when caring for suicidal patients. Teachers could provide appropriate support to help reduce students' negative thoughts and feelings and increase their care competencies when nursing suicidal patients during their psychiatric clinical practicum. Relevance to clinical practice Clinical nurse teachers could support and facilitate students to develop their competencies and confidence as they negotiate the four phases and, actually, complete their internship goals on their clinical practicums.