Implementing a Workplace Violence Simulation for Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Pilot Study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Mental Health Nursing
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Workplace violence (WPV) poses a significant risk to nurses and nursing students.
• Effective training is crucial for healthcare professionals to manage aggressive patient behaviors.
• Existing training methods may not adequately prepare students for real-world WPV scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a pilot mental health nursing simulation focused on workplace violence.
• To enhance undergraduate nursing students' knowledge of WPV.
• To improve students' confidence in recognizing aggression and applying de-escalation techniques.

Main Methods:

• A simulated scenario involving an agitated psychiatric patient, portrayed by a standardized patient (SP), was created.
• Undergraduate nursing students in a psychiatric nursing course participated in the simulation.
• Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using surveys and the Mental Health Nursing Clinical Confidence Scale.

Main Results:

• Post-simulation, students demonstrated increased confidence and knowledge regarding WPV.
• Students reported the simulation as a useful learning experience.
• The standardized patient approach fostered an effective experiential learning environment.

Conclusions:

• Mental health nursing simulations utilizing standardized patients are effective for WPV training.
• This simulation enhanced students' preparedness for managing aggressive patient encounters.
• Further implementation of such simulations can improve nursing student readiness and patient safety.