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

Abstract

Workplace violence (WPV) is an undesired phenomenon affecting nurses and nursing students. Nursing simulations allow students to learn and practice skills in a controlled setting. The development of the pilot study, "Mental Health Nursing Simulation on Workplace Violence," is presented. A simulated scenario using a standardized patient (SP) behaving as an agitated psychiatric patient was developed for undergraduate nursing students enrolled in a psychiatric nursing course. The simulation aimed to enhance students' knowledge about WPV, increase their confidence and ability to recognize signs of aggression, practice evidence-based interventions to de-escalate agitated patients, and evaluate the simulation. Surveys and the Mental Health Nursing Clinical Confidence Scale were used to measure the aims yielding qualitative and quantitative data. An increase in students' confidence and knowledge was obtained post-simulation. Students rated the simulation as useful. The use of a SP created an experiential learning environment for participants. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 55(10), 39-44.].

Uso da simulação na capacitação sobre violência no trabalho da enfermagem

“…Using simulation resources, researchers addressed different topics of violence, such as patient violence, assault, shooter presence at the workplace, horizontal violence (among nurses), bullying and violence management. (13,14,(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33) Patient-generated events were the main topic of violence addressed in the studies (Chart 2).…”

“…The six papers indicated some benefit of the simulation, but there were neutral or less favorable results even after implementation. (13,14,(27)(28)(29)33) Category II was composed of three studies that showed SE III and that involved nursing students, workers (including nurses) and mentors. In this case, data measurement was performed during or after intervention.…”

The Comparative Change of Self-Efficacy in Nursing Students After Verbal De-Escalation Education

“…Caring for numerous aggressive or agitated patients adds to the daily stress of a nursing student and may lead to disengagement (Martinez, 2017;Tee et al, 2016). When the staff fail to report incidents (Martinez, 2016) and inadvertently allow the violence to continue, the belief that nursing the sick and infirm means suffering abuse is internalized as part of the job (Brann & Hartley, 2017).…”

“…Agitated-patient scenarios should be worked into multiple course simulations (Martinez, 2017) and case study practice just as medical complications are instilled. In this way, scenarios with a medical basis will be more realistic, and true to current patient populations.…”

“…Results of studies such as in Beech (2007) may be utilized in training to specifically highlight that nursing students on a clinical rotation should not think of themselves as junior nurses with more experience and know-how than mental health technicians working on the unit. When simulation is part of the curriculum, agitated patients need to be included in scenarios to practice and reinforce verbal de-escalation skills (Martinez, 2017).…”