Patient safety

How to set up suicide precautions

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

Nursing (NCLEX)
Practice it in VR with Blocky

Suicide in health care settings is a Joint Commission patient safety goal. Clear precautions keep an at-risk patient safe until treatment starts working.

Step by step

  1. Screen every patient

    Use a validated screening tool, and ask directly about suicidal thoughts. Asking does not increase risk. [1]

  2. Assign close observation

    For high risk, keep the patient in direct sight at all times, per the order and policy. [1]

  3. Make the room safe

    Remove cords, belts, sharp items, plastic bags and anything that can be used to hang or cut. [1]

  4. Check belongings

    Search belongings and visitor items per policy. Give meals with safe utensils. [2]

  5. Talk with the patient

    Explain the precautions calmly and with respect. Listen and offer support. [3]

  6. Hand off carefully

    Never leave the patient alone during shift change. Give a clear verbal handoff of the risk level. [1]

  7. Document the care

    Record the risk level, observations and any changes in mood or behavior. [4]

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

13 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

Sources

  1. The Joint Commission, National Patient Safety Goals
  2. Open RN, Nursing Fundamentals 2e (CC BY 4.0)
  3. AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Teach-Back)
  4. NCSBN 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan

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