Inpatient Staff Perspective on Verbal De-escalation within a High Acuity Population

<p>This study explored inpatient staff’s perspective of verbal de-escalation within a high acuity population as well as the factors that make either a positive or negative impact on the effectiveness of verbal de-escalation as used in high acuity impatient settings. This phenomenological study used semi-structured interviews of 5 participants working in this setting. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling, and interviews were conducted via zoom. This study found that participants unanimously agreed that the training they received regarding verbal de-escalation was not sufficient and that employment of certain personality traits and behaviors were more effective than using only the methods of verbal de-escalation they were taught. Participants reported that providing choices for patients, expressing empathy, using humor, validating patient experiences, being self-aware, and avoiding directives were among the many useful skills that have been effective in their experiences of verbally de-escalating patients in crisis. Information gathered from this study suggests that alongside the training provided, making positive human connections with patients plays a vital role in whether verbal de-escalation will be successful.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Psy.D. Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation - Public Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2024

Author dc:creator

• DeZutti, Giovanna

Contributors dc:contributor

• Margaret Warner, Ph.D
• Emese Vitalis, Ph.D
• Nicholas Lattanzio, PsyD

• De-escalation
• Inpatient Psychiatry
• High Acuity
• Other Psychology
• Personality and Social Contexts

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/842

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.nl.edu:diss-1904