The nurse enters a patient's room and finds her in the bathroom with lacerations to the wrists. The patient is surrounded by broken glass and blood and appears calm. What should the nurse do next?

Explanation

•Safety of the nurse and patient is the first priority. Since this patient may be a danger to herself or the nurse, the nurse should first assess the safety of the situation and approach the patient while speaking in a calm voice to ensure the patient does not become startled or aggressive.

•Restraining the patient before assessing her is not appropriate.

•Going to the patient's side and moving the glass should be done after the nurse confirms that the environment is safe.