SACO Expectations
SUWA Expectations
Alphabet Soup
Alternative to SACO
The 5 P's
100

Proper nutrition is important, but this activity CANNOT be done while providing observation of a patient as a Safety Companion or Suicide Watch.

What is eating or drinking at the bedside

100

This item of clothing should be provided to patients at risk for suicide? 

what is a hospital-issued safety gown

100

This type of skill is listed on a job resume

What are hard skills

100
If the patient is at risk for leaving the unit this might be an alternative to providing a sitter. 

What is a Wander Guard/Elopement Badge? 

100

This abbreviation means by mouth and refers to eat or drink. 

What is PO?

200

The interval or frequency of documentation while on a SACO

what is hourly
200

The interval or frequency of documentation while on a Suicide watch

What is every 15 minutes

200

This type of restraint is used on violent patients and requires security presence to apply 

What are twice as tough cuffs

200

If the patient is at risk for pulling out their IV line this might be an alternative to providing a sitter.

What is a Geri-Sleeve? 

200

This term means toilet and refers to asking a patient if they need to go to the bathroom. 

What is Potty? 

300

This form is used to document the observation level and RN/SACO handoff

What is the Observation Record form?

300

This is the distance that should be maintained between a sitter & a SUWA AAT? 

What is arms reach

300

Personal care including bathing, dressing, feeding and toileting

What are Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)? 

300

If the patient is at risk to fall, but not impulsive or quick this may be an alternative to providing a sitter. 

What is a Bed Alarm, Chair Alarm, Lap Belt, or Video Monitoring? 

300

Changing this often will help prevent skin breakdown, and it is also something to check on hourly rounds.

What is position? 

400

This personal device should NOT be used by a sitter while providing observation of a patient as a Safety Companion or Suicide Watch

Cell phones, air pods, ear buds or headphones

400

A patient on a suicide watch is never allowed to have this

What are personal belongings

400

The goal is to observe behaviors in order to decide if a SACO needs to continue

What is Distance safety watch

400

This level of safety companion completes frequent (more than hourly) rounding on no more than three patients.

What is a purposeful rounder

400

Sometimes patients in this hospital lose their personal items. It is important to check on hourly rounds if they have these within reach (except on SUWAs)

What are possessions? 

500

This physical care is provided by the sitter

What is ADLs, bathing, toileting, dressing, feeding, vital signs, finger sticks...?

500

Anything that can be used to attach a rope, cord, bedsheet or any other item for the purpose of self-harm

What is ligature risk

500

Pain, Potty, Position, Personal belongings & PO

What are the 5 P's?

500

This remote patient observation system provides continuous observation of up to 12 patients by one tech.

What is Video Monitoring? 

500

This practice has been known to reduce falls? 

What is hourly or frequent rounding?