Examining the Efficacy of No-Suicide Contracts in Inpatient Psychiatric Settings: Implications for Psychiatric Nursing

Abstract

Verbal and written no-suicide contracts are commonly practiced by psychiatric nurses in inpatient psychiatric facilities. However, evidence is sparse regarding whether no-suicide contracts are effective tools for maintaining patient safety. The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of the verbal and written no-suicide contracts, discuss the resulting implications for psychiatric nurses on inpatient units, and suggest alternative clinical practices for inpatient psychiatric nurses to utilize to increase patient safety.