How do you respond to a verbally abusive patient? (2023)

How do you respond to a verbally abusive patient?

Stay calm - listen carefully to what the violent person says. Be reassuring - show some acknowledgement of what's troubling them. Allow them to explain - understanding their anger might help to resolve the problem. Keep eye contact - but do not hold it for too long.

Since most patients that arrive at the hospital are fearful or anxious, it is not uncommon for some patients to utilize anger or aggression as a coping mechanism. Therefore, nurses should utilize active listening as a tool to help comfort and reassure patients that they are invested in their safety and recovery.

The recommendations in these articles are always similar: Stay calm, don't argue, and don't try to set limits. In other words, the best way to de-escalate a situation is to allow the patient to feel heard and to try and redirect as best you can. I get the importance of this approach as a tenet of conflict management.

How do you Descalate verbal abuse?

Verbal abuse (also known as verbal aggression, verbal attack, verbal violence, verbal assault, psychic aggression, or psychic violence) is a type of psychological/mental abuse that involves the use of oral, gestured, and written language directed to a victim.