A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing suicidal thoughts. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Allowing unrestricted visitors could increase stress or provide access to potentially harmful items, so this is not a safety-first intervention. B. Visitors might inadvertently bring items that could be used for self-harm. Nurses must ensure the environment is safe first. C. Clients with suicidal thoughts require constant or frequent observation, often one-to-one supervision depending on risk, rather than a 12-hour periodic check. D. This is the priority action. Ensuring the environment is free from objects that could be used for self-harm (sharp objects, cords, medications, etc.) is the first step in protecting a client who is suicidal.