Evaluating a Workplace Violence Management Program and Nurses' Confidence in Coping With Patient Aggression

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Workplace Safety

Background:

• Increasing patient aggression poses risks to nurses.
• Healthcare organizations are implementing violence prevention programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate nurse confidence in managing patient aggression post-intervention.
• Assess the impact of a workplace violence prevention program.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study in a Midwestern US healthcare system.
• Inclusion of clinical nurses caring for adult patients.
• Analysis of confidence levels related to training year and specific program components.

Main Results:

• In situ simulation plus standard training showed no significant overall confidence increase.
• Nurses trained in 2022 reported higher confidence than those trained in 2019.
• Use of the Violence Assessment Tool and post-alert debriefing correlated with increased confidence.

Conclusions:

• Factors beyond initial training influence nurse confidence in handling aggression.
• Targeted interventions like debriefing may be key to improving coping skills.