Mitigating Workplace Violence for Health Care Workers: Five-part Virtual Series

Details

Each session will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m.

• Thursday, May 15 — Part One
• Thursday, May 22 — Part Two
• Thursday, May 29 — Part Three
• Thursday, June 5 — Part Four
• Thursday, June 12 — Part Five

Audience

all levels of hospital administration and leadership including human resources personnel, public safety officers and risk managers

The following program content was provided by the speaker.

Overview

The first session in the series will cover the components of a robust workplace violence prevention program. Participants will learn how to conduct risk assessments, establish reporting mechanisms, implement evidence-based training and foster a culture of safety. The session will explore the integration of security protocols, staff education and incident response strategies. Attendees will learn how to build and sustain an effective violence prevention program tailored to their health care environment.

The second session will cover workplace violence risk assessments. Attendees will learn how to identify high-risk areas, analyze incident data and evaluate existing security measures. The session will discuss how to pinpoint vulnerabilities, prioritize threats, and use assessment findings to inform policy updates, staff training, and facility design improvements.

The third session will describe the skills needed to effectively de-escalate potentially violent situations. Attendees will learn to recognize behavioral cues, apply verbal and nonverbal communication techniques, and use situational awareness to prevent escalation. The session also will cover how to maintain personal safety, set boundaries and foster a calm environment.

The fourth session will explore how health care facilities can enhance workplace violence prevention and response efforts. Attendees will discover innovative tools such as real-time location systems, panic buttons, video surveillance and access control systems. The session will highlight how these technologies can streamline incident reporting, improve threat detection and support faster emergency response.

The final session will focus on fostering psychological safety and providing meaningful support for health care staff in the aftermath of workplace violence. Attendees will learn strategies for post-incident debriefing, trauma-informed care and peer support programs. The session also will cover the role of leadership in cultivating a culture where employees feel safe reporting incidents and accessing mental health resources.

Objectives

At the conclusion of these sessions, participants will be able to:

Part One

• develop a robust workplace violence prevention program
• explain the importance of the integration of security protocols, staff education and incident response strategies

Part Two

• identify high-risk areas, analyze incident data and evaluate existing security measures
• discuss a plan to proactively address gaps and strengthen an organization’s overall safety posture

Part Three

• define and recognize behavioral cues, apply verbal and nonverbal communication techniques, and use situational awareness to prevent escalation
• determine how to manage challenging interactions while prioritizing safety

Part Four

• explain how health care facilities can use technology to enhance workplace violence prevention and response efforts
• discuss how innovative technologies can streamline incident reporting, improve threat detection and support faster emergency response

Part Five

• develop strategies for post-incident debriefing, trauma-informed care and peer support programs
• discuss the importance of leadership in cultivating a culture where employees feel safe reporting incidents and accessing mental health resources