Stay calm under fire

Abstract

technique for escaping from a physical assault, which, although vital, is akin to shutting the barn door while the horse is trying to stampede through it. How to avoid the situation escalating in the first place is equally important. It is understandable that relatives may have concerns, but there is no need to be defensive if you feel confident in your clinical assessment. Keep your voice calm, your body language open and your manner polite and empathetic. Stand up and step back. In the case above, I RESOURCES was lucky that the husband quickly accepted my explanation. I believe this is because I gave him the opportunity to express his concerns but remained consistent with my care plan. It is our role to advocate for all our patients and it would have been wrong to ‘give in’ and allow the patient to be seen before others who were more acutely ill. Our own behaviour can have a positive influence on the behaviour of others, but it is not always easy to know what to do for the best. I am concerned that successful aggression management techniques are learnt only through trial and error. Nurse education needs to take a more proactive approach to teaching techniques for conflict resolution: when the need arises there is no time to consult a textbook NS