Workplace Violence Prevention and De-escalation in Healthcare

1. 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.

2. Why this program

• Prevention and communication, not restraint technique.
• Covers clinical, reception and support-facing roles.
• Behavioural warning signs taught observably.
• Includes post-incident support and reporting.

3. Who it is for

Nurse · Physician · Allied Health · Medical Secretary · Healthcare Manager · Paramedic

4. 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

5. 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

6. Curriculum

1. Module 1: Understanding Aggression in Healthcare

   • Understanding Aggression in Healthcare

2. Module 2: Risk Factors and Warning Signs

   • Risk Factors and Warning Signs

3. Module 3: Verbal De-escalation

   • Verbal De-escalation

4. Module 4: Personal Safety and Exit

   • Personal Safety and Exit

5. Module 5: Clinical Causes of Agitation

   • Clinical Causes of Agitation

6. Module 6: After the Incident

   • After the Incident

7. Duration and structure

Total study hours: 3 — 2.5h content + 0.5h assessment. Duration is expressed in study hours only.

9. What you receive

This certificate confirms completion of Workplace Violence Prevention and De-escalation in Healthcare. Duration is expressed in study hours.

10. Delivery format

Self-paced · start any time · any device · lifetime access to the enrolled version.