What do nurses do in response to their predictions of aggression?
Nurses working with people who have an acquired brain injury report a high incidence of verbal assault and physical aggression directed against them. The aim of the current study was to identify the responses nurses make to such predictions of aggression. Twenty-eight nurses from 10 inpatient brain injury rehabilitation units in Australia participated. Participants were selected because of their expertise in predicting and minimizing aggression. They were interviewed one-on-one using the Critical Decision Method of interviewing. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Nurses identified three general responses to predictions of aggression: paying attention, planned nonintervention, and planned intervention. The nurses were able to respond to predictions of aggression in a clinically effective way. Knowledge of the individual patient and experiences with other brain-injured patients informed their practice.
Pryor
Julie
J
Rehabilitation Nursing Research and Development Unit, Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney, Australia. pryorj@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D001315:Australia; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000451:nursing* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*