research a local report about a nurse being confronted by an angry, injured patient.

by Jayda Batz 8 min read

Workplace violence in nursing: A concept analysis - PMC

16 hours ago  · 1. INTRODUCTION. Violence against nurses in their workplace is a major global problem that has received increased attention in recent years. 1 Approximately 25% of registered nurses report being physically assaulted by a patient or family member, while over 50% reported exposure to verbal abuse or bullying. 2 Nurses, who are primarily responsible for providing … >> Go To The Portal


What questions should a nurse ask when dealing with an angry patient?

This could include consideration of the following questions: What happened? The nurse should think about who was involved, what was happening before and consider if there were any obvious triggers; How did the nurse feel at the time? Nurses should explore how they felt when they first became aware of the anger;

What do the correct and incorrect responses to aggressive patients indicate?

The correct response indicates impaired circulation and necessitates the nurse's immediate attention. The incorrect responses indicate the patient has continued aggressiveness and agitation. 11. Which is an effective nursing intervention to assist an angry patient learn to manage anger without violence? a.

How should a nurse handle aggressive behavior from a patient?

The nurse should make eye contact and assure the patient of safety. Once the nurse has the patient's attention, gently touching the patient, asking what he or she needs, or directing the patient to discontinue the behavior may be appropriate.

What are the sources of conflict between nurse and patient?

It dominates a discourse where the nurse attributes tensions to the patient’s attitude towards illness or discontent or denial care provided. The lack of acceptance by the patient about his/her illness is the main source of conflict and is increased in the presence of an aggressive attitude of the patient or lack of respect for the nurse practice.

What is the number one reported injury for nurses?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overexertion accounted for about 46 percent of all nursing injury cases in 2016. Some potential causes include excessive physical effort, bending, twisting, lifting, and repetitive motions. The second most common injury for nurses is falls, slips, and trips.

What happens if a nurse is assaulted by a patient?

Call for security back-up or police assistance as necessary. Report the assault to your supervisor as well as to your union. This can initially be done verbally, but you should follow up with written reports. Exercise your civil right of reporting the incident to the police.

How do nurses deal with difficult patients?

Follow the 7 tips outlined below to handle even the most exasperating patients with empathy and professionalism.Don't Get Defensive. ... Watch Your Body Language. ... Let Them Tell Their Story and Listen Quietly. ... Acknowledge the Situation. ... Set Boundaries. ... Administer Patient Satisfaction Surveys. ... Be Proactive.

How do you communicate with an angry patient?

7 Tips for Handling an Angry PatientInvest some time. Sometimes a patient's anger is really a cry for help or attention. ... Dial up the empathy. ... Keep your cool. ... Mind your body language. ... Physically protect yourself. ... Legally protect yourself. ... Try to end the conversation on a positive note.

Can nurses defend themselves against patients?

Nurses Have The Right To Defend Themselves & File Charges With The Police. “More and more hospitals are supporting employees to call the police and file charges. When a patient is combative and assaults hospital staff, that staff member has every right to physically defend themselves, notify police and file charges.

How many nurses are abused by patients?

1 in 4 Nurses are Abused.

How do you resolve conflict with difficult patients?

How To Resolve Conflict With Difficult PatientsEmphasizing Empathy And Identifying Primary Emotions. ... Pertinent Pointers For Your Response. ... A Positive Approach Is The Best Approach. ... How To Avoid Negative Language And Phrasing. ... Don't Take The Bait Of Confrontational Behaviors. ... When And How To Be Assertive.More items...

How did you handle a difficult patient?

4:1114:26DEALING WITH PATIENTS Interview Questions & Answers ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI would let them speak and i would listen carefully while showing empathy when appropriate. And iMoreI would let them speak and i would listen carefully while showing empathy when appropriate. And i would try and see things from the patient's perspective.

How do you deal with a behavioral patient?

Another effective tool for dealing with angry patients is to lower the volume of your voice, she adds, which naturally deescalates the situation. Try, too, asking the patient to explain the problem from the start, making eye contact while you listen, and repeating the problem back when they're done, says Hertz.

When dealing with an angry patient the medical assistant should?

When dealing with an angry patient, the medical assistant needs to identify the emotions without feeling attacked. If possible, the medical assistant should help the angry person identify the true source of the anger.

How do you deal with an angry aggressive person?

But there are still lots of things you can do to help support them:Stay calm. ... Try to listen to them. ... Give them space. ... Set boundaries. ... Help them identify their triggers. ... Support them to seek professional help. ... Look after your own wellbeing.

How do you calm down an angry person?

Let's look at the “Steps for Defusing Angry Patients”:Do not take it personally. ... Be proactive. ... Calm yourself before you respond. ... Listen for the real message. ... Reassure and respect. ... Restate their concerns. ... Respond to their problem. ... Restart.

How do nurses deal with anger?

Newly qualified nurses may have to deal with anger at times when they feel underprepared or isolated. Nurses need strategies to help them address anger and diffuse situations. Newly qualified staff need to maintain a sense of proportion when dealing with anger in others.

How to express empathy in nursing?

Express. Nurses should express a desire to understand/express empathy. It is important to keep it brief, for example, by saying “I expect that made you feel worse”, “you must have felt isolated” or “I can appreciate why you felt that way”. Paraphrasing can be an effective way to express empathy.

What is assertive behavior?

Assertiveness is a way of behaving in an open, honest manner to communicate feelings, thoughts and beliefs without violating the feelings, thoughts and beliefs of others (Adam and Taylor, 2014).

Can anger escalate?

Anger can dissipate or escalate; which way the situation goes may be determined by the actions or responses of the nurse. People become angry for different reasons, and the way it is manifested varies between individuals and situations, so it can be difficult to recognise the extent to which someone is angry.

Should nurses have eye contact?

Nurses should consider how much direct contact is likely to be acceptable. For example, while it is important to establish eye contact, unremitting stares should be avoided. It is essential to remember that facial expressions can give a lot away: smile, if appropriate, and maintain a neutral expression if not. Incline.

Abstract

Background: The patient is observed to acquire a passive role and the nurse an expert role with a maternalistic attitude. This relationship among others determines the capacity for autonomy in the decision making of patients.

1. Introduction

In general, most of the literature does not deal with behaviours and communication skills between the nurse-patient relationship and the role of both. There has been a large amount of documentation on self-care strategies, medication adherence, psychological interventions, and patient and nurse satisfaction [ 1, 2, 3, 4]

2. Background

The most concurrent topics in the literature reviewed on nurse-patient relationship are the (a) role of the patient, (b) role of the nurse, and (c) type of nurse-patient relationship.

3. Materials and Methods

A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted. A discourse analysis was conducted for two sources. On the one hand, through in-depth interviews with nurses, and on the other hand, nursing records about the clinical evolution of patients from internal medicine and specialty departments in a general hospital.

4. Results

Singular characteristics of the construction of nurses’ discourse on the clinical evolution of a patient are observed. The set of nursing registers are, for the most part, brief, unstructured, centred on clinical plots of the patient, and without connection to each other.

5. Discussion

This study reveals that the patient is not autonomous in making decisions about their care due to the characteristics of the nurse’s relationships with the patient, as an important factor among others.

6. Conclusions

The passive role of the patient acquires its maximum expression in hospitalization units, in which the context is assumed to lack autonomy to participate in their care and decisions regarding treatment.

Why are nurses the most likely to be first in line?

ADVERTISEMENTS. Nurses are the most likely to be first in line when patients or their relatives become aggressive and possibly violent. Because anger is usually an expression of loss of control over one’s circumstances, potentially violent behavior happens mostly where patients are mentally unstable and in ER Departments where ...

How to avoid confrontation?

Avoid facing of the person in a full frontal position because this is an aggressive stance and might be interpreted as confrontation. Stand slightly to the side and at an angle. Adopt a relaxed posture, arms at your sides with hands open and facing the person. 3. Be calm and respectful.

Is the nursing profession a dangerous profession?

Workplace violence is seen by the American Nurses’ Association as the most significant occupational hazard faced by nurses and an issue that should be addressed as a priority with adequate workplace policy as well as skills training for all nurses. Nursing is one of the most dangerous professions.

How to show empathy as a nurse?

You can show empathy by focusing your attention on your surroundings and to their feelings, expressions, and actions. Show them that you are interested and that they are important.

What to do when a patient gets mad at you?

If a patient gets mad at you for something, don’t think that he is a bad patient or person. Think about how you would feel if you were in their shoes. Being sensitive to people’s feelings means accepting them and respecting them no matter what happens.

How to help someone feel understood?

Validating the person’s feelings will help them feel understood. Let them feel that their feelings make sense, that you hear them and you understand them. People, especially those who are angry, often need to know that you don’t think they are bad or crazy for feeling that way.

How to improve empathy in a patient?

This means that you have to let your patient speak their mind without interrupting. Listening does not only expand your capacity for empathy, but it also sharpens your communication skills. Active listening also means you should look at the problems from the other person’s point of view. Focus on what the person is saying to you before offering any help. Remember to take note of what they are saying, and try to retain the information.

What to say when dealing with patients?

When dealing with patients, you tend to say things you do not mean, and more often than not, give promises that you cannot keep. Remember that the patients expect so much from nurses that they will believe whatever nurses will tell them. Never compromise.

How to be a patient?

1 Understand that it’s not easy being a patient or a family . No person would ever want to be stuck in the hospital for days, and to be taken care of by different strangers every eight to ten hours. Try to understand that it’s really not easy being a patient nor to be a relative whose loved one is in critical condition.

How to respond to someone who is reacting too quickly?

Sometimes, people react too quickly without taking time to think about how their responses might affect others. If you are to respond, do it in a calm and kind manner . If you want to make the situation better, try to avoid negativity. Instead, focus on something that you can do to help the person.

Why is it important to make sure space is present between the nurse and the patient?

Making sure space is present between the nurse and the patient avoids invading the patient's personal space. Personal space needs increase when a patient feels anxious and threatened. Allowing the patient to block the nurse's exit from the room may result in injury to the nurse.

What is the purpose of the expectation that the patient will maintain control of behavior?

Stating the expectation that the patient will maintain control of behavior reinforces positive, healthy behavior and avoids challenging the patient. Offering as-needed medication provides support for the patient trying to maintain control. A firm but calm voice will likely comfort and calm the patient.

What should a nurse do when a patient is a widow?

The nurse should make eye contact and assure the patient of safety. Once the nurse has the patient's attention, gently touching the patient, asking what he or she needs, or directing the patient to discontinue the behavior may be appropriate. 16. A cognitively impaired patient has been a widow for 30 years.

What is aggressive behavior?

Aggression is harsh physical or verbal action that reflects rage, hostility, and potential for physical or verbal destructiveness. Aggressive behavior violates the rights of others. Refusing medication is a patient's right and may be appropriate. The other incorrect options do not feature violation of another's rights.

How to intervene when anger is escalating?

Intervention should begin with analysis of the patient and the situation. When anger is escalating, a patient's ability to process decreases. It is important to speak to the patient slowly and in short sentences, using a low and calm voice. Use open-ended statements designed to hear the patient's feelings and concerns.

What is the risk of violence in a patient?

Patients who are delusional, hyperactive, impulsive, or predisposed to irritability are at higher risk for violence. The patient in the correct response has the greatest disruption of ability to perceive reality accurately. People who feel persecuted may strike out against those believed to be persecutors.

Is anxiety a predictor of violence?

ANS: B. A history of prior aggression or violence is the best predictor of who may become violent. Patients with anxiety disorders are not particularly prone to violence unless panic occurs. Patients experiencing hopelessness and powerlessness may have coexisting anger, but violence is uncommon.