Learn To De-escalate 4150

Learn To De-escalate

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It's day 4 of the #ENDNURSEABUSE challenge. 

Proactively defusing or removing yourself from a potentially violent situation is one way to prevent an incident. But what are the signs of an escalating situation? And once you notice things are ramping up, what should you do?

When a situation with a patient is escalating, they’re probably getting aggressive or agitated. They could show signs of pacing, anxiety, or confusion. Try to actively listen, keep your tone and body language neutral, express empathy, and create firm boundaries. If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, remove yourself from the environment or signal a colleague for help.

“As nurses, we’re taught to do no harm, so it’s difficult to take on a defensive stance with a patient,” says Dr. Donna Fountain, a nurse for more than 30 years and former co-chair of the steering committee for ANA’s Professional Issues Panel to #EndNurseAbuse. But by understanding that violence is an issue and trying to prevent it or remove yourself from the situation, you may save your life.

Learn more about how ANA advocates for safe nursing workplaces.

Share your experience with us in the challenge updates thread here, in our private Facebook group, or on Twitter, or Instagram. Tag us with #healthynurse.

Want to share this post? Use the social media links on the left side of your page to share it with a nurse and invite them to join this challenge here.
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Missed Day 3? Catch up here. Join us on day 5.
 
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Blog Challenge Tips 04/07/2022 12:53pm CDT

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1 Comments

Great steps suggested in the article and we definitely tried to avoid the second scenario on the Neuro-Trauma unit I worked on for many years. Our patients were often unpredictable so being prepared for anything and staying calm was key to getting through the shift.

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