Dealing with Aggression
The Account of a Victim
Years ago a male nurse had an experience at his work that still has a great influence on his life. After attending a course at Hoffmann Strategic Risk Management® he now knows how best to act in such circumstances, in case he should end up in a similar situation in the future.
The male nurse can remember the incident exactly. One day he heard a great deal of noise and screaming. He had gone out to see if he could help a colleague with a 'troublesome customer'. The aggressive noisemaker did not leave the premises, as the male nurse had expected, but he moved towards him and gave him a 'punch' on the breast. The male nurse put the man in the hold and thought: 'Fortunately we both are not damaged, for otherwise I would have been taken to account for that'.
While his colleagues brought the man off the premises, the nurse discovered some drops of blood on his clothes and at the same time a wooden hilt of a potato knife in his breast. The stab wound was close to his heart. During the following operation it fortunately appeared that, although the blade of the knife was still completely in his breast, no vital organs had been damaged.
Later on the victim heard that the perpetrator was an illegal drug addict and that he could whistle for the damages he was entitled to. But what was worse: no one in the man's working environment ever asked him how he felt after the incident. No one in the big organization felt responsible. To the victim's disappointment he received no help or assistance at all.
During the course 'Dealing with aggression' by Hoffmann Strategic Risk Management® the male nurse learned how he could best deal with aggression in suchlike situations in the future. About the training he says: "During the training session I got a number of tools that can help me in dealing with aggressive behaviour. In real practice I have been able to apply this successfully a few times. The point is that you must let the other know that you are not afraid; that you have time for the aggressor. When you do not succeed in talking with him, then bring yourself and others to a place of security. Make eye contact with the aggressive person and remain at a safe distance; certainly when you notice that you can no longer make eye contact with him or her."
The male nurse can remember the incident exactly. One day he heard a great deal of noise and screaming. He had gone out to see if he could help a colleague with a 'troublesome customer'. The aggressive noisemaker did not leave the premises, as the male nurse had expected, but he moved towards him and gave him a 'punch' on the breast. The male nurse put the man in the hold and thought: 'Fortunately we both are not damaged, for otherwise I would have been taken to account for that'.
While his colleagues brought the man off the premises, the nurse discovered some drops of blood on his clothes and at the same time a wooden hilt of a potato knife in his breast. The stab wound was close to his heart. During the following operation it fortunately appeared that, although the blade of the knife was still completely in his breast, no vital organs had been damaged.
Later on the victim heard that the perpetrator was an illegal drug addict and that he could whistle for the damages he was entitled to. But what was worse: no one in the man's working environment ever asked him how he felt after the incident. No one in the big organization felt responsible. To the victim's disappointment he received no help or assistance at all.
During the course 'Dealing with aggression' by Hoffmann Strategic Risk Management® the male nurse learned how he could best deal with aggression in suchlike situations in the future. About the training he says: "During the training session I got a number of tools that can help me in dealing with aggressive behaviour. In real practice I have been able to apply this successfully a few times. The point is that you must let the other know that you are not afraid; that you have time for the aggressor. When you do not succeed in talking with him, then bring yourself and others to a place of security. Make eye contact with the aggressive person and remain at a safe distance; certainly when you notice that you can no longer make eye contact with him or her."
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