The Role of Virtual Simulation in De-Escalating a Patient Demonstrating Escalating Behavior.

Background: Undergraduate nursing students are unprepared to manage patients demonstrating escalating aggressive behavior encountered during their clinical placements. Confidence and competence surrounding de-escalation skills can be achieved through virtual simulated learning opportunities. This study evaluated undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of confidence and success in their de-escalation skills following a virtual simulation intervention.

Method: A quantitative, one-group pretestposttest design was used to complete this study. Students (n = 33) completed a 10-question demographic questionnaire with four additional questions on participants' psychosocial well-being considering the pandemic, and a nine-question pre- and postvirtual simulation de-escalation confidence and knowledge survey.

Results: Virtual simulation had positive effects on participants' feelings of confidence and success. Male students and students who reported Caucasian as their ethnicity were the most comfortable with de-escalating behaviors.

Conclusion: These findings emphasize the effectiveness of de-escalation education. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(10):698-702.].