The development of a workplace violence education huddle program and facilitator’s manual

Abstract

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) is any physical or verbal threat or action directed towards working people. WPV from patients and visitors in healthcare is a worldwide issue. Acute care nurses require additional education and training to help prevent and manage WPV from patients and visitors. Purpose: To develop a learning resource and an accompanying facilitator’s manual for nurses in acute care on the prevention and management of WPV from patients and visitors. Methods: 1) Comprehensive literature review 2) consultations with acute care medical-surgical nurses and other key stakeholders 3) environmental scan to determine existing resources 4) development of the learning resource. Results: The literature supported that WPV from patient and visitors was a problem that negatively impacted patients, nurses, and the healthcare system. The consultations supported a need for education and key topics were identified to cover in the learning resource. Potential interventions to prevent and manage WPV were identified in the environmental scan and literature review. The literature review, environmental scan, and consultations supported the development of the WPV Education Huddle Program and Facilitator’s Manual. This resource was created with the intention of a facilitator delivering the education to small groups of nurses (e.g., approximately six) during working hours. The resource consists of eight Education Huddles that cover an overview of WPV and information and strategies to prevent and manage WPV from patients and visitors. Each Education Huddle contains reflective discussion questions, case study questions, and handouts. Conclusion: The educational resource will be provided to clinical educators within a tertiary care center in Eastern Health to deliver to their unit.