Nurse's Awareness of the Relationship Between Suicidal Ideation and Schizophrenic Patient's Positive/Negative Symptoms.

Background: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are very common among schizophrenic patients. Nurses have vital role in decreasing incidence of suicide among schizophrenic patients through increase their awareness of the relationship between suicidal ideation and positive / negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Aim of the study: study aims to assess nurse's awareness of the relationship between suicidal ideation and schizophrenic patients' positive/negative symptoms. Research methods: A descriptive exploratory research design was utilized. A convenience sample was selected in this study. The subject of the present study consisted of (70) nurses (males and females) who are working in Port-Said Psychiatric Mental Health Hospital (PSPMHH).Tools: A self-reports study tools were developed by the researcher and it consists of 3 tools. First tool: Socio-demographic data. Second Tool: Nurse's knowledge about schizophrenic disorder. It consisted of three parts. Third Tool: Nurse's awareness of suicidal ideation in schizophrenic patients. It consisted of three parts. Results: There is no statistically significance relationship between socio-demographic characteristic and nurse's awareness of positive &negative symptoms of schizophrenia. While, there is statistically significance relationship between scholastic psychiatric experience & total nurse's awareness of the relationship between suicidal ideation and positive / negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Conclusion: Majority of the studied nurses subject weren't aware of positive / negative symptoms of schizophrenic patients. Nearly three quadrant of studied nurses subject weren't aware of the relationship between suicidal ideation and positive/negative symptoms of schizophrenic patients. Majority of the studied nurses subject don't have the ability to recognize different clues that may indicate early intention for suicide made by schizophrenic patients. Recommendation: Orientation programs/seminars should be developed about the existence of the relationship between specific positive & negative symptoms of schizophrenia and suicidal ideation among Egyptian patients.