Emergency Nurses’ Responses to a Survey about Means Restriction: An Adolescent Suicide Prevention Strategy

Abstract Background Little is known about nurses’ knowledge and practice of an injury control strategy (means restriction) with parents of adolescents at risk for suicide who are cared for in the emergency department. Objectives This study examined the experiences of emergency nurses ( N = 527) with suicidal adolescents; their training, knowledge, practice, and attitudes toward means restriction; and unit practice related to the delivery of means restriction education to parents by emergency nurses. Design A survey was mailed to all members of the Illinois Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association. Results Although the majority (80%, n = 407) of respondents had recent experience with suicidal adolescents, only 24% ( n = 122) had ever received means restriction training, 28% ( n = 136) provided means restriction education to parents, and 18% ( n = 89) worked in units where means restriction is standard practice. Conclusions The findings of this study are consistent with injury control literature. The authors recommend training emergency department staff in means restriction, adopting a means restriction protocol for adolescents at risk for suicide, and conducting outcome studies to determine the effectiveness of training and practice.