Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare Settings Course Overview

Healthcare and social service workers experience more workplace assaults than any other industry. Healthcare workers face a five times greater risk of serious workplace violence injuries compared to workers in other industries. Violence against healthcare workers includes physical assaults, verbal threats, intimidation, and aggressive behavior from patients, family members, and visitors. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that healthcare workers account for nearly 75% of all workplace assaults and violent acts, with emergency departments, psychiatric units, geriatric care facilities, and waiting rooms representing the highest-risk environments.

This course addresses workplace violence in healthcare settings and provides evidence-based strategies to prevent and minimize threats while giving practical guidance on responding to violent incidents should they occur. Employees learn to define workplace violence and identify its four types, recognize risk factors and environmental conditions that increase violence potential, identify warning signs and behavioral escalation patterns, and apply prevention and de-escalation techniques to defuse potentially violent situations before they escalate to physical confrontation.

What You’ll Learn

✓ Define workplace violence and understand its scope in healthcare settings

✓ Recall the four types of workplace violence and recognize how each manifests in healthcare

✓ Recognize risk factors including environmental conditions and patient characteristics that increase violence potential

✓ Identify warning signs of escalating aggression and behavioral indicators of potential violence

✓ Explain prevention techniques including environmental design and administrative controls

✓ Apply de-escalation techniques to calm agitated patients and defuse volatile situations

✓ Follow proper response procedures when violent incidents occur, including reporting and post-incident protocols

Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare Settings Course Content

Lesson 1: Introduction and Objectives

Scope of workplace violence in healthcare and social services, statistics on healthcare worker assaults, consequences of workplace violence, OSHA’s role in workplace violence prevention, course objectives, and importance of comprehensive violence prevention programs

Lesson 2: Workplace Violence Risk Factors

Four types of workplace violence, Type II as most common in healthcare, risk factors in healthcare settings, working alone or in small numbers, access to drugs and pharmaceuticals

Lesson 3: Risk Factors

High-risk patient populations, high-risk situations, environmental risk factors, gang activity and drug-seeking behavior, domestic violence situations extending into workplace

Lesson 4: Warning Signs

Behavioral escalation continuum, verbal indicators, physical indicators, facial expressions, recognizing potential for violence before physical aggression occurs, cultural considerations in interpreting behavior

Lesson 5: Prevention and De-escalation

Hierarchy of controls, environmental modifications, administrative controls, training in de-escalation techniques, de-escalation strategies, when to disengage and seek help, post-incident procedures

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Who Should Take Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare Settings

🏥 Emergency Department Staff

ED nurses, physicians, and techs facing high-risk patient encounters

🧠 Behavioral Health Workers

Psychiatric nurses, mental health technicians, and counselors working with volatile patients

🚑 Emergency Medical Services

Paramedics and EMTs responding to scenes with potential violence

👴 Long-Term Care Staff

Nursing home employees caring for residents with dementia and behavioral issues

📋 Registration and Admissions

Front desk staff and patient representatives managing frustrated patients

🔒 Security Personnel

Hospital security officers responding to violent incidents

Certificate & Compliance

Certificate & Compliance

Upon successful completion, learners receive an official certificate of completion documenting their workplace violence prevention training for OSHA compliance records and facility safety programs.

The course includes assessments that verify understanding of workplace violence types, risk factors, warning signs, and prevention and de-escalation techniques. Certificates are generated immediately and can be downloaded or printed for employee files and compliance documentation.

Supports Compliance With:

  • OSHA General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1))
  • California SB 553 (workplace violence prevention requirements)
  • New York State workplace violence prevention legislation
  • Washington State RCW 49.19 (Violence Prevention in Health Care Settings)
  • Joint Commission workplace violence prevention standards
  • The Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert #59
  • CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule
Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare Settings Certificate of Completion

Choose How Your Team Learns

🖥️ Use our ELMS

Immediate access with zero setup

  • Fast & Easy Setup

  • Automatic progress tracking and reporting

  • Built-in certificate generation

  • No technical expertise required

  • Automated Course Recertification

📦 Use Your Own LMS

License SCORM files for your system

  • Integrate with your existing platform

  • Maintain centralized training records

  • Compatible with all major LMS platforms

  • Full technical specifications provided

  • Dedicated support included

Why Choose Evolve?

🎯

Expert-Developed Content

Courses feature realistic scenarios, engaging multimedia, and knowledge checks to reinforce learning. Content developed by compliance experts ensures accuracy and relevance.

📱

Accessible Anywhere

Complete training anytime, anywhere on PCs, tablets, or smartphones. Your team can learn at their own pace without disrupting daily operations or scheduling conflicts.

🎬

Engaging & Effective

Scenario-based learning & interactive elements promote retention better than lecture-style courses

📊

Trackable and Reportable

Monitor completion rates, track progress, and generate compliance reports. Maintain detailed records for audits and regulatory requirements.

💰

Transparent Pricing

Simple per-seat pricing with no hidden fees, surprise charges, or mandatory bundles. Volume discounts make compliance training affordable for organizations of any size.

⚡

Easy Implementation

Begin training your team immediately – no lengthy implementation or waiting periods

📈

Scalable Solutions

Whether training 5 employees or 500, our platform scales to meet your organization’s needs. Custom course bundles available to address your specific training requirements and budget.

✓

Consistent Quality Training

Every learner receives the same high-quality, up-to-date content. Standardized training ensures your entire organization maintains consistent compliance knowledge.

💬

Ongoing Support

Dedicated customer support available to assist with questions, technical issues, or training customization needs.

PROTECT YOUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS FROM WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Give Your Team the Skills to Recognize and De-escalate Violent Situations

Healthcare workers shouldn’t have to accept violence as “part of the job”—yet 75% of workplace assaults occur in healthcare settings. Ensure OSHA compliance and protect your staff with comprehensive workplace violence prevention training covering risk factors, warning signs, and proven de-escalation techniques.

Trusted by hospitals, emergency departments, behavioral health facilities, and long-term care providers committed to staff safety

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