Other Titles
Preparing Tomorrow's Providers: An Interprofessional Simulation Addressing Workplace Violence in Clinical Settings [Title Slide]
Abstract
Background: Workplace violence is a growing global problem, with healthcare and social service professionals experiencing the highest rates, reaching epidemic levels in the United States (Emergency Nurses Association (ENA),n.d.; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). Academic institutions must prepare students for these realities by integrating workplace violence education into prelicensure curricula, especially as students are also at risk during their clinical rotations (Johnston & Fox, 2020).
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an interprofessional high-fidelity simulation to increase prelicensure healthcare students’ confidence in managing aggressive behaviors within the simulated clinical environment.
Methods: Nursing, Physician Associate, and Respiratory Therapy students at a public institution participated in a high-fidelity simulation. The simulation included a prebrief session to provide resources in dealing with aggressive patients followed by a debriefing session focused on workplace violence. A quasi-experimental design was used, with pre- and post-intervention assessments via the validated Confidence in Coping with Patient Aggression Instrument (CCPAI).
Findings: Descriptive statistics showed an increase in comfort levels from pre- (mean 5.75, median 6) to post-simulation (mean 6.58, median 7). Pairwise t-tests revealed statistically significant improvements across all ten measured domains (p < .0001). Regression analysis showed the post-simulation model explained 86.77% of the variability in comfort, with key predictors including perceived training in psychological and physical aggression, and ability to intervene.
Conclusions/Implications: Participation in interprofessional simulations significantly increased students’ confidence in managing patient aggression. These experiences enhance practical skills, promote teamwork, and support a culture of safety in clinical education.
Notes
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References:
Emergency Nurses Association. (n.d.). Workplace violence prevention [Practice resource]. https://www.ena.org/practice-resources/workplace-
violence (ena.org)
Johnston, S., & Fox, A. (2020). Kirkpatrick’s evaluation of teaching and learning approaches of workplace violence education programs for undergraduate nursing students: A systematic review. The Journal of Nursing Education, 59(8), 439–447. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20200723-04
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, October 8). Workplace violence 2021-2022 (Injuries, illnesses, and fatalities factsheet). https://www.bls.gov/iif/factsheets/workplace-violence-2021-2022.htm
Sigma Membership
Xi Delta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Simulation, Interprofessional and Interdisciplinary, Stress and Coping, Workplace Violence
Recommended Citation
Kurkowski, Julie; Yocom, Danielle; Barker, Nancy; Heagey, Patrick; Moran, Alexa; and Fisher, John, "Preparing Tomorrow’s Providers: A Simulation Addressing Workplace Violence in Clinical Settings" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 33.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/33
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-23
Preparing Tomorrow’s Providers: A Simulation Addressing Workplace Violence in Clinical Settings
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background: Workplace violence is a growing global problem, with healthcare and social service professionals experiencing the highest rates, reaching epidemic levels in the United States (Emergency Nurses Association (ENA),n.d.; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). Academic institutions must prepare students for these realities by integrating workplace violence education into prelicensure curricula, especially as students are also at risk during their clinical rotations (Johnston & Fox, 2020).
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an interprofessional high-fidelity simulation to increase prelicensure healthcare students’ confidence in managing aggressive behaviors within the simulated clinical environment.
Methods: Nursing, Physician Associate, and Respiratory Therapy students at a public institution participated in a high-fidelity simulation. The simulation included a prebrief session to provide resources in dealing with aggressive patients followed by a debriefing session focused on workplace violence. A quasi-experimental design was used, with pre- and post-intervention assessments via the validated Confidence in Coping with Patient Aggression Instrument (CCPAI).
Findings: Descriptive statistics showed an increase in comfort levels from pre- (mean 5.75, median 6) to post-simulation (mean 6.58, median 7). Pairwise t-tests revealed statistically significant improvements across all ten measured domains (p < .0001). Regression analysis showed the post-simulation model explained 86.77% of the variability in comfort, with key predictors including perceived training in psychological and physical aggression, and ability to intervene.
Conclusions/Implications: Participation in interprofessional simulations significantly increased students’ confidence in managing patient aggression. These experiences enhance practical skills, promote teamwork, and support a culture of safety in clinical education.
Description
Interprofessional high-fidelity simulation was designed to increase prelicensure healthcare students’ confidence in managing aggressive behaviors. A quasi-experimental design was used, with pre- and post-intervention tests via the validated Confidence in Coping with Patient Aggression Instrument. Descriptive statistics showed an increase in comfort levels from pre to post-simulation. Pairwise t-tests revealed statistically significant improvements across all ten measured domains.