Confronting reality: A case study of a group of student nurses undertaking a management of aggression training (MOAT) program

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

“…The healthcare environment in the United States is one of the most dangerous places to work, with injury rates almost double that of private industry (Department of Labor, 2016). Registered nurses, and nursing students, are in the direct line of fire from agitated and aggressive patients (Jonas-Dwyer et al, 2017). Nursing students often lack the worldly experience and resources to care for these volatile patients, and often become targets from those with mental and substance abuse problems (Nau, Dassen, & Halfens, 2009).…”

“…Lack of a control group was often noted in the literature reviewed (Beech, 1999;Beech & Leather, 2003;Brann & Hartley, 2017;Jonas-Dwyer et al, 2017;Nau, Dassen, Needham, & Halfens, 2009). The wisdom or ethical consideration of giving no education on de-escalation techniques to control participants, which may prevent injury, was not addressed (Gurkan & Komurcu, 2017).…”

“…Much of the limited research in existence regarding de-escalation training programs with nursing students at least partially utilized a qualitative approach in the study (Beech, 1999;Beech, 2008;Jonas-Dwyer, et al, 2017;Brann & Hartley, 2017;Magnavita & Heponiemi, 2011;Nau, Dassen, Halfens, & Needham, 2007). Polling a program's attendees immediately after an educational module regarding the utility of learned information often results in a generic positive reaction (Beech & Leather, 2003).…”

“…Being truthful about the potential for violence on the unit and the safety measures enforced by all unit staff helped to ease the fears and anxieties of the student. Nursing research demographics state most nursing students are young, though middle-aged and second-career nurses are entering schools in larger numbers (Jonas-Dwyer et al, 2017). The nursing student with few coping skills is poorly equipped to handle stressful situations, including agitated patients in the psychiatric clinical rotation.…”

“…While previous research recommended several hours to four days of verbal de-escalation training (Beech, 1999;Beech & Leather, 2003;Brann & Hartley, 2017;Gurkan & Komurcu, 2017;Jonas-Dwyer et al, 2017;Magnavita & Heponiemi, 2011;Needham et al, 2005), Bandura's Theory assisted in using performance accomplishment, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and emotional arousal throughout the 90-minute training to obtain personal mastery of the cognitive skills required for successful de-escalation. This finding expands on previous research findings for length of training, and for content.…”