Owning their expertise: Why nurses use ‘no suicide contracts’ rather than their own assessments

Abstract

'No suicide contracts' (NSCs) are a tool commonly used by nurses in community crisis situations. At times this tool is utilized because the clinician believes that it is beneficial. However, there are other occasions when NSCs are introduced in a manner that runs counter to the clinical judgement of the crisis nurse. This paper discusses the results of a qualitative study that addressed the question of why nurses use NSCs in such situations, rather than relying on their own expertise. This analysis suggests that underlying concerns of clinicians can determentally affect decision-making in such circumstances, and recommends that rather than subjugating nursing expertise, underlying issues be addressed directly.