The nurse is preparing to implement suicide precautions for an acutely suicidal client. Which nursing interventions are included with regard to these precautions?

Suicide precautions involve constant observation of the client by the nursing staff. This intense attention from the nurse provides for safety and also allows for constant reassessment of risk. Suicide precautions include maintaining arm's length distance with the client at all times; ensuring that meal trays contain no glass or metal silverware; carefully watching the client swallow each dose of medication; conducting one-on-one nursing observation and interaction 24 hours a day and explaining to the client the procedures involved with suicide precautions; and documenting client's mood, verbatim statements, and behaviors every 15 to 30 minutes per protocol. During observation when the client is sleeping, the client's hands should always be in view and not under the bedcovers.