SYFY: Dealing With Disruptive Patients and Families - Online Course

This course is available for FREE to Sigma Members.

Nurses are confronted with difficult patients and families daily. Understanding the feelings and emotions behind each demeanor allows the nurse to effectively assess the disruptive individual, determine the behavioral or medical cause of the disruption, and strategize potential solutions for handling the disruption.

Learning Outcomes:

• Recognize and respond to the causes of disruptive behavior in patients and families
• Practice techniques to reduce the incidence of disruptions interfering with the delivery of care
• Recognize the patient/family who is in need of assistance with achieving and maintaining self-control of behavior
• Determine the difference between willful disruptions or disruptions due to a mental illness or medical condition
• Engage in patient centric communication

About the Author:

India Owens MSN, RN, CEN, NE-BC, FAEN is an experienced nursing leader with over 40 years as an RN. She is board certified nurse executive (NE-BC) and holds a master’s degree in Nursing Leadership with focus in Public Policy/Law. Owens has taught nursing leadership to post-graduate students at the University level and has served as a mentor and coach to other nurses, assisting them in achieving their career goals. A member of the Emergency Nurses Association, Owens chaired the development committee for the ENA’s Lantern Award and contributed to developing standard metrics for measuring ED performance. Owens served on the Indiana State Board of Nursing from 2015-2019. She operates India T. Owens Consulting. Her work includes contributing to educational programs, establishing debriefing programs, speaking, and teaching.