Circumstantial Factors Among Kentucky Nurse Suicide Decedents, 2005 to 2019

Details

• Personal Author:
  Brown S ; Marfell J ; Norrod PE ; Walmsley LA
• Description:
  Background: Nurse suicide, a complex occupational health concern, is urgently in need of research due to the personal and occupational suicide risk factors experienced by nurses, namely mental health problems (e.g., depression), job problems, and substance misuse. Therefore, the study aims were to determine the contextual characteristics and circumstantial factors associated with nurse suicide in Kentucky. Methods: Secondary suicide data were obtained from the Kentucky Violent Death Reporting System (KYVDRS) from 2005 to 2019. Nurse suicide cases were identified using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Standard Occupational Classification. A mixed-methods analysis using descriptive statistics and qualitative evaluation was conducted to determine the distributions of demographic, injury, and weapon characteristics, followed by a qualitative analysis of the KYVDRS incident narrative text of nurse suicide decedents. Results: There were 88 decedents identified with a nursing occupation. The predominant means of death for male (59%) and female (45%) nurses involved firearms. Thematic analysis showed nurse decedents experienced a mental health problem (51%) and premeditated (50%) suicide preceding death. Incidentally, 51% of all cases experienced multiple circumstantial factors (e.g., relationship problems and premeditation) preceding their death by suicide. Discussion/Application to Practice: Nurse suicide decedents experienced multifactorial risk factors preceding their death by suicide, namely depression, premeditated suicide, and relationship problems. Occupational health practitioners and health care organizations can implement individual and organizational prevention efforts to help prevent nurse suicide. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Health Personnel Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Preventive Medicine Safety Suicide Violence
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Nurse Suicide Firearms Mental Health Nurses Occupational Health Preventive Measures Qualitative Analysis Suicide Prevention
• ISSN:
  2165-0799
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Birmingham Region [OSHA] ; Chicago Region [OSHA] ; Kentucky ; Ohio
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  193-202
• Volume:
  73
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070284
• Citation:
  Workplace Health Saf 2025 Apr; 73(4):193-202
• Contact Point Address:
  Paul E. Norrod, DrPH RN, College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, 225 Procter Hall PO Box 210038, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0038
• Email:
  paul.norrod@uc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  University of Kentucky, Lexington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20120701
• Source Full Name:
  Workplace Health & Safety
• End Date:
  20240630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8eccd9b867bb5b80547c1e8daaa8622bb24881a707883311cb906aa270a2177da14e312f0a6c26cffcb68f2dda641f2adc25e4270eb8b9605995c9a5faca5baf
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208530/cdc_208530_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 156.94 KB ]