Studies found wide variation in nurses’ histories of suicidal thoughts
A global review found a broad range of lifetime suicidal thoughts and attempts. Findings for living nurses and nurses who died by suicide describe different groups.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review found substantial variation in reported suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts among nurses. Lifetime estimates for living nurses describe whether an experience had ever occurred, rather than a current crisis. Findings for nurses who died by suicide describe a distinct group and should not be generalized to all nurses.
This abstract-based summary cannot explain the wide ranges or quantify the suggested difference from the general population. The authors call for more consistent surveillance to improve comparisons.
What researchers found
Lifetime prevalence of suicidal thoughts
Range across studies of living nurses, covering lifetime history; descriptive prevalence with no comparator specified for this range.
Keeping populations separate
Some studies examined histories among nurses who had died by suicide; others described experiences among living nurses. Combining those figures would obscure which population was represented and could misstate prevalence across the profession.
Associations require careful interpretation
Reported correlates included health concerns, burnout, and workplace bullying or violence. The abstract describes associations, which do not establish that these factors caused suicidal thoughts or attempts, or quantify their separate contributions.
The original publication
Suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and suicide attempt among nurses.
Kreuze E
Nurs Outlook · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41319561
- Record checked
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