A nurse is planning care for a client who recently attempted suicide. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?
Explanation & Rationale
Rationale: A. Ensure the client swallows each dose of medication: Clients with recent suicide attempts are at risk for hoarding medications to use in a future overdose. The nurse should closely monitor medication administration and confirm that each dose is swallowed to ensure safety. B. Limit the personal toiletries in the client's room to cologne: Cologne often contains alcohol and could be misused for ingestion or fire-related self-harm. It should not be permitted. All personal items should be carefully screened to eliminate potential hazards. C. Observe the client's behavior every 2 hr: Monitoring every 2 hours is insufficient for a client at high risk of suicide. More frequent or continuous observation (such as 1:1 supervision) is typically warranted during the acute phase to ensure immediate safety. D. Keep the client's door shut when they are in the room: Keeping the door closed limits visibility and increases the risk of the client engaging in self-harm without detection. The door should remain open or observation should be maintained to ensure the client’s ongoing safety.