Patient safety

How to set up seizure precautions

Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.

Nursing (NCLEX)

Seizure precautions protect the patient from injury and allow a fast response. Setup is done before a seizure happens.

Step by step

  1. Prepare the bed

    Bed low and locked, side rails up and padded per policy. [1]

  2. Ready equipment

    Keep suction, oxygen and a bag-valve mask at the bedside and test them. [1]

  3. Keep IV access

    Maintain a working IV for rescue medicines such as lorazepam. [2]

  4. During a seizure

    Stay with the patient, time it, turn them on their side and protect the head. Never put anything in the mouth. [1]

  5. Call for help

    Call the provider or rapid response if it lasts 5 minutes or more, or repeats. [1]

  6. After the seizure

    Check airway, breathing, vital signs and injuries. Let the patient rest and reorient them. [1]

  7. Document the care

    Record the start time, length, movements, and the patient's state after. [3]

Common errors

Practice it in VMS

In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.

VMS cases that train this skill

14 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

Sources

  1. Open RN, Nursing Fundamentals 2e (CC BY 4.0)
  2. Open RN, Nursing Pharmacology 2e (CC BY 4.0)
  3. NCSBN 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan
  4. The Joint Commission, National Patient Safety Goals

Facts and steps follow The Joint Commission, National Patient Safety Goals. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.