Publication Date
Spring 2026
Document Type
Research Paper
Primary Faculty (Chairperson)
Dr. Brenda Senger
Secondary Faculty
Dr. Amy Berg
Abstract
Background: Workplace violence (WPV) disproportionately affects healthcare workers and harms both staff well-being and the healthcare organization. Despite growing attention to WPV prevention, effective solutions remain limited. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the Prevention and Management of Assaultive Behaviors (PMAB) training in an outpatient ambulatory care setting and to assess staff’s confidence and ability to respond to escalating situations. Methods: A pre/post observational survey using Likert-scale, multiple choice, yes/no questions and narrative responses measured confidence before, immediately after, and 3 to 12 months following PMAB training. A retrospective review of WPV incident reports three months before and three months after the training period was completed. Results: Staff reported limited prior de-escalation training and low baseline confidence. Post-training confidence increased across domains and remained above baseline at 3 to 12 months, although some concepts showed reduced retention. Staff reported feeling better prepared and safer in their clinic environment. WPV incidence report data showed an increase in the number of reports after the training. Conclusions: PMAB training improved staff confidence and perceived preparedness to manage escalating situations. Regular, structured training strengthen staff skills and supports broader WPV prevention efforts. There was noted increase in WPV incidence reports before and after training. It is suspected this likely do better understanding of the WPV reporting process.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Bowles, Michaela, "Evaluation of the Prevention and Management of Assaultive Behaviors (PMAB) Training for Outpatient Ambulatory Care Staff" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice. 13.
https://repository.gonzaga.edu/nursing_dnp/13
Poster