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Safe strategies for potentially violent patients, Part 1
Sheila G Dunn1, Sarah E Alholm
1Quality America, Inc., PO Box 8787, Asheville, NC 28814, USA. sdunn@quality-america.com
The Journal of Medical Practice Management : MPM
|November 3, 2007
Summary
Healthcare workers can prevent escalating workplace violence by recognizing warning signs and using de-escalation techniques. This guide focuses on individual actions to reduce the risk of verbal assaults becoming physical.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Occupational Safety
- Criminology
Background:
- Workplace violence is a significant issue in healthcare settings.
- Individual healthcare workers are often the first responders to escalating situations.
- Existing literature often focuses on administrative solutions, leaving a gap in individual-level guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide healthcare workers with actionable strategies to de-escalate potential workplace violence.
- To define workplace violence and identify predictors of aggressive behavior.
- To empower individuals to reduce their risk of injury from assaults.
Main Methods:
- Review of definitions and predictors of workplace violence.
- Identification of verbal communication techniques for de-escalation.
- Presentation of non-verbal communication (body language) strategies.
- Guidance on disengagement tactics.
Main Results:
- Specific verbal and non-verbal techniques can effectively de-escalate aggressive encounters.
- Recognizing early warning signs of potential violence is crucial for prevention.
- Disengagement strategies can minimize harm during an assault.
Conclusions:
- Individual healthcare workers can significantly impact workplace safety by implementing de-escalation strategies.
- Proactive individual interventions are essential complements to administrative controls in preventing workplace violence.
- Empowering staff with these skills can foster a safer healthcare environment.
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