A descriptive study of baccalaureate nursing students’ responses to suicide prevention education

6^th World Nursing and Healthcare Conference

August 15-17, 2016 London, UK

Fredricka Gilje and Julie M Pullen

Montana State University College of Nursing, USA

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Internationally, little is known of educational content focused on suicide prevention in undergraduate nursing curricula. Through 2014, there were no known published research studies on implementation of suicide prevention training in a BSN curriculum, despite the need for such instruction as cited by various international healthcare and nursing initiatives. The aim of this multi-method study was to describe senior baccalaureate students� responses to an evidence-based suicide prevention gatekeeper training program entitled Question-Persuade-Refer which was implemented in a required course. Data were collected utilizing a pre & post-survey questionnaire administered to 150 students in four classes of a psychiatric nursing course from 2012 through 2014. The quantitative results were statistically significant (p<0.000) indicating an overall positive rating of the training. From the qualitative data, the main theme was �becoming capable intervening with persons at risk for suicide�. Students responded favorably to the evidence based suicide prevention gatekeeper training program. The training addressed various international suicide prevention strategies and filled a void in nursing curriculum. Moreover, it empowered students to engage in suicide prevention efforts in a northwestern state, which ranks among the highest for suicide in the USA.

Biography :

Fredricka Gilje holds a PhD, Master’s and Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She has 40 years of experience as a Nurse Educator in Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs in North Dakota, Montana, Washington and Alaska. In addition she engages in international collaboration in Nursing Research in Norway and Sweden. She has authored and co-authored various publications in nursing journals and books including articles concerning caring for suicidal persons. She is a Board Member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention-Montana Chapter and serves on a local suicide prevention coalition in a state located in northwestern USA.

Email: fgilje@bresnan.net