Ending disruptive behavior: staff nurse recommendations to nurse educators

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Workplace Behavior
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Disruptive behavior (DB) in healthcare settings can compromise patient safety and quality of care.
• New graduates require specific educational strategies to effectively manage workplace conflicts and inappropriate conduct.
• Understanding the impact of work culture on managing DB is crucial for nurse educators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify educational strategies for preparing new nursing graduates to manage disruptive behavior (DB).
• To explore the experiences and recommendations of practicing staff nurses regarding DB management.
• To highlight the role of work culture in the context of DB in acute care settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study utilizing individual interviews.
• Nine staff nurses in acute care settings in the United States participated.
• The study focused on gathering insights into managing disruptive behavior.

Main Results:

• Staff nurses emphasized the need for enhanced communication skills training for professional practice.
• Key recommendations included training on communicating with hostile individuals and providing/receiving constructive criticism.
• Unexpected findings revealed significant work culture issues, including lack of management support and devaluation of nursing work.

Conclusions:

• Educational strategies should prioritize communication skills to equip new nurses for DB management.
• Nurse educators must address workplace culture issues, such as lack of support and interpersonal conflicts, in their curriculum.
• Improved preparation for disruptive behavior and workplace challenges is essential for successful transition to practice and maintaining patient safety.