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Behavioral Health
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Recognizing Suicidal behavior

Build practical nursing skills to identify suicide risk, complete a focused assessment, protect patients from immediate harm, and coordinate evidence-based care.

A registered nurse seated at eye level with an adult patient in a private, uncluttered clinical room, using calm, attentive body language during a suicide safety assessment.
Contact hours
6
Format
Self-paced, online
Last reviewed
Sep 19, 2026

$29.99or included with All-Access

$5 per contact hour · 6 contact hours

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  • No post-test required · unlimited retakes · evaluation and attestation always required

Course Purpose

Build practical nursing skills to identify suicide risk, complete a focused assessment, protect patients from immediate harm, and coordinate evidence-based care.

Continuing Education Credit Designation

This educational activity is credited for 6 contact hours at completion of the activity.

Overview

After completing this course, the nurse will be able to recognize warning signs, contributing conditions, population patterns, and medication-related concerns associated with suicidal thoughts and behavior. The nurse will also be able to use validated screening instruments without substituting a score for clinical judgment. The nurse will be prepared to ask directly about suicide, determine the urgency of intervention, reduce access to lethal means, initiate safety precautions, and coordinate treatment, discharge follow-up, crisis support, and postvention within scope and organizational policy.

Objectives

Upon completion of this independent study, the learner will be able to:

  1. Differentiate suicide warning signs, risk factors, protective factors, and population-level associations during nursing assessment.
  2. Administer and interpret validated depression and suicide screening instruments according to the instrument instructions and care setting.
  3. Conduct a direct, person-centered suicide inquiry addressing ideation, plan, intent, access to lethal means, past behavior, and immediate safety.
  4. Implement nursing precautions and escalation procedures appropriate to the patient's current level of suicide risk.
  5. Explain major medication classes, psychotherapies, and care-management strategies used for conditions associated with suicide risk.
  6. Develop a collaborative safety and transition plan that includes lethal-means safety, follow-up care, and crisis resources.

Policy Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the policies of FastCEForLess.com. This course should be used for informational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, prescribe, recommend, or initiate therapies or treatments in any setting. This course is copyrighted by Fast CE For Less, Inc. and may not be replicated, copied, or dispersed without written consent.

Disclosures

Fast CE For Less, Inc. and its authors have no disclosures. There is no commercial support.

Who this course is for:

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical or vocational nurses, and other healthcare providers in any setting who want continuing education on Recognizing Suicidal behavior.

Course outline

20 sections · finish in any order across devices

  1. 1

    Introduction

  2. 2

    Suicide Risks

  3. 3

    Firearms and Suicide

  4. 4

    Mental Illnesses that are Associated with an Increased Risk of Suicide

  5. 5

    DSM-5 Personality Disorders

  6. 6

    Emotional Stress

  7. 7

    Medication Classifications

  8. 8

    Common Medication Dosages

  9. 9

    Medications Linked to Suicidal Behavior

  10. 10

    Medical Management Considerations

  11. 11

    Demographics of Suicide

  12. 12

    Seasonal Variances in Suicide

  13. 13

    Screening for Suicidal Behavior

  14. 14

    Available Screening Tools

  15. 15

    Assessing for Suicide

  16. 16

    Immediate Treatment of Mental Health

  17. 17

    Psychotherapy

  18. 18

    If Suicide Occurs

  19. 19

    Suicide Resources

  20. 20

    Conclusion

References

The full reference list is included inside the course, after the Conclusion.

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