Background: About 7000 people in Sweden try to take their lives every year. This number is expected to rise. The primary risk factors for suicide are past suicide attempts and mental illness. The stigmatized approach in society makes people feel ashamed of suicidal thoughts. Many people that completed a suicide had an earlier healthcare contact. Suicide can by that fact be prevented. Nursing's attitude should be based on a non-judicial approach and make it clear that both time and interest are present. Nursing should be based on a holistic perspective where the individual's unique needs are put in focus. The nurse should be helpful with support both mentally, physically, existentially and socially. Experiences of people who survived a suicide attempt will be a guiding tool for the nurse in the design of nursing care for this patient group.
Aim: To describe people's experiences of nursing after a suicide attempt.
Methods: A descriptive literature review containing ten studies with a qualitative approach was used.
Main results: Continuity and accessibility in the healthcare and also involvement of family and friends were aspects that emerged as positive for the nursing experience. Commitment and good communication from the healthcare professionals was also considered significant for a positive experience. Lack of continuity and accessibility in the healthcare as well as experiences of losing control emerged as negative aspects of nursing experience. What also appeared to be negative for the experience was when the healthcare professionals showed a lack of knowledge or communication or had a stigmatized approach of suicide.
Conclusion: In the caring of people after a suicide attempt, the nurse is the main tool herself. More education and time would be a good tool for nurses in helping people who survived a suicide attempt in their recovery process.