QPR Suicide Prevention Training Courses

This is not a train-the-trainer course, and thus does not include instructor guidelines, lesson plans or student handouts.

Given the time constraints many nurses are under to complete new training, this course is modularized into many brief learning sections, each of which can be completed in a few minutes to slightly over 30 minutes. The course is open for a full year so that learners can log in and out of the course to complete modules as time is available.

Major Breakdowns

In addition to basic QPR training and screening for suicide risk, this course also includes the QPR Suicide Training training program (listed in our library). These modules have been customized for nurses working medical and other settings. These advanced modules provide training in how to conduct a suicide risk assessment, formulate and document assessed risk, and manage risk over time.

If the learner completes the foundation knowledge lecture series, reads files on environmental safeguards for suicidal inpatients, and other pertinent matters, an additional 4 to 6 hours of training is required, depending on learner speed and selection of modules. If the final exam for the lecture series is passed at 80% correct, the QPR for Nurses Certificate in Suicide Prevention is awarded. This is a nationally-normed clinical knowledge exam and, historically, only 5% of practicing nurses pass this exam without training.

Organizational Training

This training program focuses on the development of individual learner knowledge and skills. The QPR Institute offers a comprehensive, integrated systems approach to suicide risk reduction for all levels of organizational structure, staff, faculty, students or consumers. Please visit our home web page for more information and/or send us an inqury.

From minimum gatekeeper training, participants should be able to:

• Understand suicide as a major public health problem
• Understand the common myths and facts surrounding suicide
• Identify unique verbal, behavioral, and situational suicide warning signs
• Know how to engage and assist a suicidal colleague or co-worker
• Conduct an initial screening interview to detect suicide risk, with a focus on Emergency Department patients

From the 6-8 hour certificate program, participants should be able to:

• Know how to inquire about suicidal intent and desire
• Know how to inquire about capacity for suicide and self injurious behavior
• Recognize at least three suicide warning signs
• Recognize at least three risk factors for suicide
• Recognize at least three protective factors against suicide
• Demonstrate increased knowledge, skills,self-efficacy and intent to act to intervene with suicidal people and patients
• Engage in an interactive and helpful conversation with someone who has attempted suicide
• Engage in an interactive and helpful conversation with the loved ones or family members of someone who has died by suicide
• Know the difference between "known at risk" patients and "unknown at risk" patients
• Know how to conduct a brief triage assessment of acute suicide risk
• Describe "means restriction" and identify individual characteristics and environmental features that may increase or decrease the risk for suicide, including in the hospital
• Address immediate patient safety needs and determine most appropriate setting for care
• Know what crisis materials, phone numbers, and family information to provide when the patient leaves the hospital or point of care site
• Be familiar with "hand off" procedures to alert other staff of patients at risk for suicide
• Describe the US National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
• Understand the nature of suicide and describe at least one theory of suicidal behavior
• Describe and locate major suicide prevention web sites and online resources
• Demonstrate increased knowledge about suicide and its causes
• Engage in an interactive and helpful conversation with someone who has attempted suicide
• Engage in an interactive and helpful conversation with the loved ones or family members of someone who has died by suicide
• Describe clinical groups at high risk for suicide
• Describe how and why "suicide proofing" an inpatient room and ward may prevent adverse events.
• Describe the relationship of mental illness and substance abuse to suicide and understand the fundamentals of our current knowledge about suicide and its prevention
• Pass a nationally standardized exam demonstrating fundamental knowledge about suicide, its causes, and the current status of suicide prevention in America