Nursing students' experiences in managing patient aggression.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Patient Safety
• Aggression Management

Background:

• Nursing students face a high risk of patient aggression.
• Existing training programs may not adequately address student nurses' unique needs.
• Understanding student perspectives is crucial for improving educational outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences and educational needs of nursing students regarding patient aggression management.
• To identify specific challenges faced by student nurses in handling aggressive behaviors.
• To inform the development of targeted training interventions.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve nursing students.
• Qualitative content analysis was employed to evaluate the interview data.

Main Results:

• Patient aggression is a pervasive issue for nursing students across various settings.
• Beginner nurses encounter specific difficulties in managing aggression.
• Key issues include understanding aggression triggers, situational interpretation, patient interaction, stress management, and organizational factors.

Conclusions:

• Nursing students necessitate comprehensive preparation and training in managing patient aggression.
• Essential skills include knowledge of aggression, problem awareness, self-confidence, assertiveness, empathy, and effective coping mechanisms.
• Hospital safety policies require evaluation to ensure adequate support for student nurses.