Workplace Violence Prevention and De-escalation in Healthcare

Program overview

Violence and aggression toward healthcare staff is common, under-reported and increasingly the subject of accreditation requirements. This course covers the full arc: environmental and clinical risk factors, the observable behavioural signs that precede aggression, verbal de-escalation technique, safe positioning and exit, post-incident support and reporting. It deliberately avoids restraint technique, which cannot be taught safely online — the focus is prevention, communication and personal safety. Suitable for every role that meets patients or visitors, including reception, security and portering.

Why this program

Who it is for

Program objectives

• Identify environmental, clinical and situational risk factors for aggression
• Recognise the observable behaviours that precede violence
• Apply verbal de-escalation technique to an escalating encounter
• Describe safe positioning, exit routes and summoning help
• Explain the post-incident support a colleague should receive
• Document an aggression incident accurately

Learning outcomes

• Identify escalation warning signs in a described patient encounter
• Apply a de-escalation sequence appropriate to the stage of escalation
• Select safe positioning and exit options for a given room layout
• Differentiate clinical causes of agitation from intentional aggression
• Recommend environmental changes that reduce aggression risk in a waiting area
• Document an incident in a form that supports both support and investigation

Curriculum

Duration and structure

6 lessons across 6 modules. Duration is expressed in study hours.

What you receive

Delivery format

• Self-paced — start any time.
• Study on any device.
• Lifetime access to the version you enrolled in.

Program handbook