Suicide Prevention: Empowering Nurses to Recognize, Respond, and Reduce Risk

CE course trains nurses to spot suicide risks, screen, communicate, and create safe care plans.

Suicide remains a leading cause of preventable death across age groups in the United States. As front-line professionals, nurses are uniquely positioned to recognize early signs of risk, initiate life-saving conversations, and intervene with compassion and clarity. This course provides a practical, evidence-based roadmap for suicide prevention, enhanced with case studies, screening tools, and therapeutic communication techniques nurses can apply immediately in their practice.

Author:  NIHE Faculty

CE Hours:  2

Course Created on:  07/22/25   Course Expires on:  07/21/27

Target Audience:  

• Registered Nurses (RN)
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN)
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN/LVN)

Completion Requirements:

1. Enrollment in the course by the learner
2. Read and learn all course materials
3. Complete the course evaluation
4. Attest and testify learning of the course materials

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest and Relevant Financial Relationships

Neither National Institute for Healthcare Education nor any authors, planners, content experts, or contributors have any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Accreditation Statement:  

National Institute for Healthcare Education, the parent company of TopNurseCE.com, is a CA Board of Registered Nursing CE Provider #13886. It will take the average learner 2 hours to complete.

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this course is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a healthcare provider in considering diagnosis and treatment options for a particular patient’s medical condition. Copyright © 2024: All rights reserved. No part of the materials may be reproduced without the express written consent of TopNurseCE.com Professional Educational Institution. The content of this course is intended to provide general information on the topics covered. This information has been prepared by experts with practical experience in the subject matter. This should not be considered medical, legal or professional advice. TopNurseCE.com recommends that individuals contact a licensed medical, legal or professional provider in their respective state. While TopNurseCE.com uses reasonable efforts to ensure that all content provided in this course is accurate and current at the time of publication, TopNurseCE.com makes no representations as to its applicability to your particular situation. No guarantees are given and reliance on them does not constitute liability. Testimonials are collected from feedback surveys submitted by customers. The model presented is for representation purposes and is not intended for actual customers.

Course Outline

Section I: Understanding the Scope of the Crisis

• Suicide statistics and trends in the U.S.
• Age, gender, and profession-specific risk patterns
• Impact on healthcare professionals
• Case Study 1

Section II: Risk Factors and Warning Signs

• Biological, psychological, social, and cultural risk factors
• Acute vs chronic warning signs
• Protective factors and resilience
• Case Study 2

Section III: Screening and Assessment Tools

• The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
• PHQ-9 and item 9
• Validated nurse-friendly tools
• Case Study 3

Section IV: Communication Strategies and Therapeutic Interventions

• The “ASK” model (Ask, Support, Keep safe)
• Active listening and reducing stigma
• Safety planning and brief interventions
• Case Study 4

Section V: Legal, Ethical, and Documentation Issues

• Mandatory reporting
• Ethical dilemmas and confidentiality
• Documentation tips to protect patients and license
• Case Study 5

Section VI: Creating a Culture of Prevention

• The nurse’s role as advocate, educator, and team member
• Unit-based and system-wide strategies
• Resources for self-care and peer support
• Case Study 6: A nurse manager responds after a co-worker dies by suicide and implements a unit-wide peer support initiative

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

1. Describe current trends, prevalence, and risk factors associated with suicide across populations.
2. Identify key warning signs of suicide and protective factors that support intervention.
3. Demonstrate understanding of validated suicide risk screening tools, including how to interpret and apply them in practice.
4. Apply therapeutic communication strategies to support individuals experiencing suicidal ideation.
5. Explain legal, ethical, and documentation considerations relevant to suicide prevention.
6. Advocate for a culture of safety, prevention, and peer support in healthcare settings.