Background:

Suicide is a global health problem. There are several risk factors that can trigger patients to commit suicide. The risk of suicidal behavior increases when multiple risk factors interact. At the same time, suicide prevention is crucial for individuals, families, and societal well-being. However, nurses feel unprepared and uncertain about providing suitable care for these patients.

Aim:

The aim of this literature-based study was to describe nurses' experiences of providing nursing care to patients with suicidal behavior.

Method:

A literature-based study was conducted based on an analysis of qualitative research. Nine scientific articles were analyzed, resulting in three themes and six sub-themes.

Results:

Three themes were identified which are insufficient time, lack of knowledge, and working in an unsuitable environment. Nurses faced several difficulties in caring for patients with suicidal behavior, which prevented them from establishing a therapeutic relationship and restricted them in suicide risk assessment.

Conclusion:

Lack of time, insufficient knowledge among nurses, and improper surroundings have unsatisfactory outcomes. These shortcomings result in feelings of insecurity, stress and anxiety among nurses. These aspects need to be addressed not only to create a better working environment for nurses but also to promote patients' recovery from mental illness.