A literature review of Patient care in the management of agitation leading to violence and aggression in neuroscience nursing

Abstract

Abstract Background A correlation exists between staff retention, staff and patient safety and effective prevention of violence and aggression in neuroscience nursing. Workplace violence leads to a lack of productivity amongst nurses and legally a hospital is required to provide a safe working environment. This literature review aims to determine the themes within the literature and effective patient management of agitation leading to violence and aggression. Aim A literature review of articles was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane database and Google Scholar between 2007-2022. Discussion The common themes within the literature included assessment of the patient to identify an unmet need, early referrals to members of the interdisciplinary team, effective communication, verbal de-escalation techniques and an understanding of restraint and pharmaceutical management, even though these should be the last resort. Education for staff is fundamental and should include effective communication, warning signs, triggers for aggression, simulation in the clinical context, and verbal de-escalation techniques. Debriefing should take place after an incidence of violence and aggression and effective hospital management should be considered with guidelines and systems in place to support and protect staff and patients.