What Do Nurses Do in Response to Their Predictions of Aggression?

Nurses working with people who have an acquired brain injury report a high incidence of verbal assault and physical aggression directed against them. The aim of the current study was to identify the responses nurses make to such predictions of aggression. Twenty-eight nurses from 10 inpatient brain injury rehabilitation units in Australia participated. Participants were selected because of their expertise in predicting and minimizing aggression. They were interviewed one-on-one using the Critical Decision Method of interviewing. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Nurses identified three general responses to predictions of aggression: paying attention, planned nonintervention, and planned intervention. The nurses were able to respond to predictions of aggression in a clinically effective way. Knowledge of the individual patient and experiences with other brain-injured patients informed their practice.