Critical incident stress debriefing: a health promotion model for workplace violence.

PURPOSE

To view the global impact of violence as a critical incident.

DATA SOURCES

Published literature, author's experience.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychiatric nurses can use the critical incident stress debriefing protocol to minimize adverse outcomes after a traumatic event. Workplace violence threatens the safety and well-being of nurses. Psychiatric nurses are more likely to encounter workplace violence than nurses in other settings and must prepare themselves using proactive health-promoting activities, for example the critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) model. This health-promotion model provides immediate emotional support and education about normal stress reactions, and may reduce the risk of chronic and disabling emotional and physical consequences.