Title:
Workplace Violence Against Nurses: Testing the Interrater Reliability of the Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression Tool in an Acute Care Setting
Brief description:
Jessica Marshall researched the efficacy of a tool that assesses the risk of workplace violence against nurses who provide care to the inpatient acute adult population. The tool, called the Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression (DASA), is a questionnaire administered to identify psychiatric patients who may show physical or verbal aggression within the next 24 hours.
The DASA questionnaire had previously only been studied in inpatient psychiatric settings, and Marshall wanted to learn if it could be useful for other populations. She chose the inpatient acute adult population in response to a particular hospital that had been experiencing instances of workplace violence. DASA needed to be proven to work in different settings before it could be widely used.
Marshall worked alongside nurse scientist Renee Twibell, PhD, at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital to conduct research to prove the questionnaire would be a consistent tool to administer.
“That’s what [being a DNP student] is all about, collaborating with the PhDs and bringing what they find into the clinical world,” Marshall said.
Potential benefit to patients:
The tool was found to be applicable to acute adult population, which means it is now able to be used in other settings consistently. Marshall hopes that DASA will be adopted in the clinical setting and ultimately help decrease workplace violence episodes in areas such as emergency rooms and urgent care facilities.
“How cool is it that we found that these nurses can reliably use [DASA],” she said. “And what may come of this is that we can predict workplace violence episodes, and, in essence, improve the experience for both patients and nurses.”
Marshall hopes to disseminate the results of her research and present her findings at conferences.
Project site:
IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital
Post-graduation plans?
Marshall graduated from the DNP program in May and said her experience was everything she hoped for and encourages others who are considering attending to pursue further education.
“I encourage anyone who wants to extend their education to do so. IU has been a phenomenal school.”