Impact of Non-Pharmacological Interventions on Combative Patients in the Acute Care Setting
Major
Nursing, BSN
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Nursing
Faculty Advisor
Wendy Kooken
Location
CNS Atrium
Start Date
4-11-2026 11:15 AM
End Date
4-11-2026 12:30 PM
Abstract
Violence in healthcare environments is an increasing global issue that often stems from patients’/visitors' medical diagnoses, intense emotional distress, pain, or fear. Over the past ten years, rates of violence have increased in the United States (U.S.), including rates of assault, homicide, suicide, and firearm violence (American Hospital Association (AHA, 2025). In the U.S., up to 76% of healthcare workers reported experiencing violence, (80% experiencing verbal violence; 33% experiencing physical violence) (AHA, 2025). Nurses in any setting in the hospital may experience high rates of physical and emotional victimization from combative and aggressive patient/visitor behaviors. Nurses work in extremely stressful settings which are made more stressful because of the current nursing shortage. One way to reduce nurses’ stress and retain them at the bedside may be to identify ways to reduce violence. Outside of mental health settings, training for nurses to de-escalate aggressive behaviors in patients/visitors is rare. Additionally, nurses must rely on non-pharmacological interventions because they cannot prescribe medications for immediate use. Additionally, all care must be given within a least restrictive framework, which means intervening in the least invasive way possible. Therefore, non- pharmacological methods to reduce escalating behaviors are paramount for nurses. To promote a safe, positive environment, improve nurse confidence in de-escalation skills, and decrease nurse injury and workforce turnover in the acute care setting, it is important to discover which non-pharmacological nursing interventions are most effective in de-escalation of combative/aggressive behavior in patients/visitors. We are conducting an in-depth review of the literature on non-pharmacological interventions used to manage escalating behaviors in acute care settings. The PRISMA framework will be utilized to ensure a transparent and systematic approach to reporting the rationale, methodology, and findings of the review. Our review is in process.
Impact of Non-Pharmacological Interventions on Combative Patients in the Acute Care Setting
CNS Atrium
Violence in healthcare environments is an increasing global issue that often stems from patients’/visitors' medical diagnoses, intense emotional distress, pain, or fear. Over the past ten years, rates of violence have increased in the United States (U.S.), including rates of assault, homicide, suicide, and firearm violence (American Hospital Association (AHA, 2025). In the U.S., up to 76% of healthcare workers reported experiencing violence, (80% experiencing verbal violence; 33% experiencing physical violence) (AHA, 2025). Nurses in any setting in the hospital may experience high rates of physical and emotional victimization from combative and aggressive patient/visitor behaviors. Nurses work in extremely stressful settings which are made more stressful because of the current nursing shortage. One way to reduce nurses’ stress and retain them at the bedside may be to identify ways to reduce violence. Outside of mental health settings, training for nurses to de-escalate aggressive behaviors in patients/visitors is rare. Additionally, nurses must rely on non-pharmacological interventions because they cannot prescribe medications for immediate use. Additionally, all care must be given within a least restrictive framework, which means intervening in the least invasive way possible. Therefore, non- pharmacological methods to reduce escalating behaviors are paramount for nurses. To promote a safe, positive environment, improve nurse confidence in de-escalation skills, and decrease nurse injury and workforce turnover in the acute care setting, it is important to discover which non-pharmacological nursing interventions are most effective in de-escalation of combative/aggressive behavior in patients/visitors. We are conducting an in-depth review of the literature on non-pharmacological interventions used to manage escalating behaviors in acute care settings. The PRISMA framework will be utilized to ensure a transparent and systematic approach to reporting the rationale, methodology, and findings of the review. Our review is in process.