Abstract
Workplace violence is not new to healthcare whether it is interprofessional, nurse to nurse, doctor to nurse, patient/patient family to healthcare worker. (Kumari et al., 2022) There is a need to provide the healthcare worker with tools and training on ways to mitigate workplace violence (WPV). Simulation is an effective evidence-based teaching and evaluation method often used in healthcare. (Brown et al., 2018; Gutiérrez-Puertas et al., 2020) In an attempt to mitigate WPV this organization began a mandated training using didactic classes from an external training program. This program involved required computer-based pre-work and attendance at a three-hour class which included a small portion of hands-on practice. In an effort to determine the effectiveness of the training program the organization’s leadership held an education event that included a WPV escape room. (Brown et al., 2019) The use of simulation and escape room activities has been shown to increase the learner’s knowledge and ability to prioritize. (Kubin, 2020) The ability to prioritize interventions when confronted with WPV is essential so that the situation is not escalated. The escape room included five stations with four stations involving a scenario that requires a de-escalation technique that was part of the external training program and a final station with a QR code that asks the final question requiring a code to unlock the box with a timer. The participants were divided into groups of four and rotated through the interactive scenario stations. At each station one participant acted as lead for the group and the other three were observers. At each station the lead participant was confronted with a disruptive situation acted out by a facilitator requiring the lead participant to respond with a de-escalation technique. The group was then required to choose a color card that identified the technique that was used. The groups rotated through each of the stations changing lead participants at each station and collecting four different de-escalation technique color cards. The group then moved to the final station to answer the final question and to stop the timer. At this station the group played the QR code on the back of the cue card to determine if the de-escalation technique they chose was correct and to receive one of four numbers to unlock the timer and stop their time. If the chosen cue card was incorrect the group was directed to watch a video that showed the correct technique. The group then had to choose what the correct technique was from a stack of cue cards on a table. The final puzzle question asked the groups what their next step would be if the situation continued without escalation. The correct code numbers made up the phone extension for the organizations police department.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Workplace Violence, WPV, Simulations, Escape Rooms, Prevention of Violence in the Workplace
Recommended Citation
Sanchez, Lynda; Wilson, Monique D.; and Sanchez, Derek, "Using Simulation to Mitigate Workplace Violence" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 62.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2024/presentations_2024/62
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2024
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
2026-02-19
Using Simulation to Mitigate Workplace Violence
Washington, DC, USA
Workplace violence is not new to healthcare whether it is interprofessional, nurse to nurse, doctor to nurse, patient/patient family to healthcare worker. (Kumari et al., 2022) There is a need to provide the healthcare worker with tools and training on ways to mitigate workplace violence (WPV). Simulation is an effective evidence-based teaching and evaluation method often used in healthcare. (Brown et al., 2018; Gutiérrez-Puertas et al., 2020) In an attempt to mitigate WPV this organization began a mandated training using didactic classes from an external training program. This program involved required computer-based pre-work and attendance at a three-hour class which included a small portion of hands-on practice. In an effort to determine the effectiveness of the training program the organization’s leadership held an education event that included a WPV escape room. (Brown et al., 2019) The use of simulation and escape room activities has been shown to increase the learner’s knowledge and ability to prioritize. (Kubin, 2020) The ability to prioritize interventions when confronted with WPV is essential so that the situation is not escalated. The escape room included five stations with four stations involving a scenario that requires a de-escalation technique that was part of the external training program and a final station with a QR code that asks the final question requiring a code to unlock the box with a timer. The participants were divided into groups of four and rotated through the interactive scenario stations. At each station one participant acted as lead for the group and the other three were observers. At each station the lead participant was confronted with a disruptive situation acted out by a facilitator requiring the lead participant to respond with a de-escalation technique. The group was then required to choose a color card that identified the technique that was used. The groups rotated through each of the stations changing lead participants at each station and collecting four different de-escalation technique color cards. The group then moved to the final station to answer the final question and to stop the timer. At this station the group played the QR code on the back of the cue card to determine if the de-escalation technique they chose was correct and to receive one of four numbers to unlock the timer and stop their time. If the chosen cue card was incorrect the group was directed to watch a video that showed the correct technique. The group then had to choose what the correct technique was from a stack of cue cards on a table. The final puzzle question asked the groups what their next step would be if the situation continued without escalation. The correct code numbers made up the phone extension for the organizations police department.
Description
Simulation is an oft-used evaluation method in healthcare training. Simulation activities were created to assess hospital employee’s application of de-escalation techniques. This session will share how these activities were created and feedback from attendees.