Abstract
Implementing harm reduction is among the administrative tasks used for maintaining a safe unit for psychiatric in-patients. Such harm may be potentially caused by patients themselves or others. Included in nursing procedures implemented for observing suicidal patients is the practice of 15-minute checks. In reviewing the standard forms used for such procedures in several major hospitals across the United States, we noticed a wide variation in the format and use of 15- minute checks, as well as poor guidelines for their termination. We recommend that the observation practice of 15-minute checks be eliminated from the repertoire of nursing protocols for suicidal patients who are assessed to be at imminent risk for self harm on inpatient units.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 46-49 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Psychiatry (Edgemont) |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 8 |
State | Published - Aug 1 2010 |
Keywords
- 15-minute check
- Patient observation
- Psychiatric hospital
- Suicide
- Suicide prevention protocol
- Suicide risk
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health