Considering theories of aggression in an emergency department context
Abstract
Internationally literature emphasises concern regarding the phenomenon of violence and aggression within the emergency field. This paper emphasises the important role education and training may play in reducing the risk of staff being exposed to violent or aggressive experiences. Furthermore, the paper emphasises, explores and discusses well recognised theories relating to aggression development. These theories can be used to explain both organisational strategies designed to minimise aggression in the emergency department and situational factors contributing to the development of aggressive interactions.
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Transient agitation in acute care may be due to a concatenation of neurological and biochemical factors including underlying infection, hypoxia, and medication side effects.
“Transient agitation in the acute care setting may occur even in an individual who does not have a diagnosis of cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders, and might be due to a concatenation of neurological and biochemical factors, including an underlying infection, hypoxia, and medication side effects (30).”
From The impact of COVID-19 infection and enforced prolonged social isolation on neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with and without dementia: A review (2020) · cites this paper as [30]
Transient agitation in the acute care setting may occur even in an individual without a diagnosis of cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders.
“Transient agitation in the acute care setting may occur even in an individual who does not have a diagnosis of cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders, and might be due to a concatenation of neurological and biochemical factors, including an underlying infection, hypoxia, and medication side effects (30).”
From The impact of COVID-19 infection and enforced prolonged social isolation on neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with and without dementia: A review (2020) · cites this paper as [30]
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- Authors
- Ferns, T.
- Affiliations
- University of Greenwich (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Ferns, Terry
- Venue
- Accident and Emergency Nursing
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-10
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 193-200
- ISSN
- 0965-2302 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2011036945
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Accident and Emergency Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Greenwich Academic Literature Archive (University of Greenwich) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Workplace Violence and Bullying
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › Emergency and Acute Care Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Keywords
- aggression, violence in emergency departments, aggression theory, staff education and training, situational factors, emergency nursing
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Aggression, Attitude of Health Personnel, Attitude to Health, Biological Psychiatry, Brain Chemistry, Choice Behavior, Emergency Service, Hospital, Ethnology, Frustration, Health Facility Environment, Humans, Instinct, Personality, Professional-Patient Relations, Psychoanalytic Theory, Psychological Theory, Rationalization, Risk Factors, Socialization, Violence, Organizational Culture, Occupational Health
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