Unique Presentation Identifier:
V09
Program Type
Graduate
Faculty Advisor
Shelly Randall, PhD, RN
Document Type
Presentation
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Location
Online
Start Date
29-4-2025 8:00 AM
Abstract
Abstract
Nurses in psychiatric facilities frequently experience violence from patients, resulting in an increase in burnout and a decrease in job satisfaction. This quality improvement project proposes implementing an acute Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) to reduce incidents of patient aggression toward nursing staff in an inpatient psychiatric hospital. This initiative employs a specialized team, which includes the Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) staffed within the PICU. Research indicates that PICUs, supported by BERTs, can effectively decrease rates of violence. This project outlines a protocol for the safety of nurses regarding activating BERT for instant transfer to the PICU when patients’ aggressive episodes are suspected or when patients require immediate psychiatric interventions. During the past 13 months, the psychiatric hospital has experienced 145 staff injuries from January 2024 to January 2025, with an average of 11.2 monthly injury occurrences. Nurses are experiencing at least one violent occurrence from patients every 2.5 days. Workplace violence is on the rise, with 40% of injuries reported in the last 5 months between September 2024 and January 2025. The implementation of BERT and PICU in psychiatric hospitals could significantly reduce workplace violence and increase the safety of nursing staff in psychiatric settings.
Keywords: Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, Behavioral Emergency Response Team, Workplace Violence, Psychiatric Nurses
Recommended Citation
Okoli, Ansel C., "Ad-hoc Implementation of an Acute Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit in an Inpatient Psychiatric Care Setting as an Intervention for Violent Patients" (2025). ATU Student Research Symposium. 6.
https://orc.library.atu.edu/atu_rs/2025/2025/6
Ad-hoc Implementation of an Acute Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit in an Inpatient Psychiatric Care Setting as an Intervention for Violent Patients
Online
Abstract
Nurses in psychiatric facilities frequently experience violence from patients, resulting in an increase in burnout and a decrease in job satisfaction. This quality improvement project proposes implementing an acute Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) to reduce incidents of patient aggression toward nursing staff in an inpatient psychiatric hospital. This initiative employs a specialized team, which includes the Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) staffed within the PICU. Research indicates that PICUs, supported by BERTs, can effectively decrease rates of violence. This project outlines a protocol for the safety of nurses regarding activating BERT for instant transfer to the PICU when patients’ aggressive episodes are suspected or when patients require immediate psychiatric interventions. During the past 13 months, the psychiatric hospital has experienced 145 staff injuries from January 2024 to January 2025, with an average of 11.2 monthly injury occurrences. Nurses are experiencing at least one violent occurrence from patients every 2.5 days. Workplace violence is on the rise, with 40% of injuries reported in the last 5 months between September 2024 and January 2025. The implementation of BERT and PICU in psychiatric hospitals could significantly reduce workplace violence and increase the safety of nursing staff in psychiatric settings.
Keywords: Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, Behavioral Emergency Response Team, Workplace Violence, Psychiatric Nurses