Nursing students' experiences in managing patient aggression.
BACKGROUND
Nursing students are at high risk to become a victim of patient aggression. There is little evidence that training programmes developed for post-registered nurses or nurses in psychiatric or forensic settings can meet the needs of nursing students. To gain more insight into student nurses' educational outcomes in Germany the view of the target group was explored.


METHODS
Twelve nursing students participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were evaluated by qualitative content analysis.


RESULTS
Managing patient aggression is a general challenge for nursing students and is not confined to psychiatric settings. Specific problems of beginners became evident. Additionally, general issues were addressed on control of causes of aggression, interpretation aggressive situations, dealing with the aggressive patient, coping with stress, and organizational issues.


CONCLUSIONS
Nursing students need preparation and training in handling patient aggression. They should acquire knowledge about aggression, awareness of contributing problems, self-confidence in dealing with aggressive patients, assertiveness and empathy in communication and the ability to cope in an appropriate manner. In addition the safety policy of hospital placements should be examined for appropriateness to support nursing students.
Nau
Johannes
J
Evangelisches Bildungszentrum für Pflegeberufe Stuttgart, Protestant Centre of Nursing Education Stuttgart gGmbH, Stöckachstrasse 48, 70190 Stuttgart, Germany. nau@ebz-pflege.de
Dassen
Theo
T
Halfens
Ruud
R
Needham
Ian
I
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D001242:Assertiveness; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015984:Causality; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003142:Communication; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000592:standards; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017751:Safety Management; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires