The nurse is planning the care of a client newly admitted to the mental health unit for suicidal ideations. To provide a caring, therapeutic environment, which intervention should be included in the nursing care plan?

The establishment of a therapeutic relationship with the suicidal client increases feelings of acceptance. Although the suicidal behavior and the client's thinking are unacceptable, the use of unconditional positive regard acknowledges the client in a human-to-human context and increases the client's sense of self-worth. The client would not be placed in a private room because this is an unsafe action that may intensify the client's feelings of worthlessness. Distance of 18 inches or less between two individuals constitutes intimate space. The invasion of this space may be misinterpreted by the client and increase the client's tension and feelings of helplessness. Placing the client in charge of the morning chess tournament is a premature intervention that can overwhelm the client and cause the client to fail; this can reinforce the client's feelings of worthlessness.