In healthcare settings, the connection between communication and mental health is profound yet often overlooked. As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, it's time to acknowledge that how we speak to one another isn't just about information exchange—it's fundamentally about creating environments that either support or undermine psychological well-being.

Healthcare leaders face an unprecedented challenge: maintaining the mental well-being of frontline staff who regularly encounter high-stress situations, including the threat of workplace violence. As Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us, supporting the supporters isn't just good ethics—it's essential for organizational sustainability, patient care quality, and staff retention.

Healthcare professionals enter the field with a desire to help others, but many find themselves facing a reality far removed from this noble intention. In reality, they often become targets of verbal abuse, threats, and physical violence from the very people they're trying to help. While the physical dangers of workplace violence have started to receive significant attention, the psychological...

In an increasingly litigious healthcare environment, organizations face growing exposure to liability claims related to workplace interactions. From patient confrontations to staff disputes, how your team communicates directly impacts your legal and financial risk. Effective verbal defense training offers a powerful risk mitigation strategy with a measurable return on investment.

Amid the ongoing healthcare staffing crisis, organizations cannot afford to overlook one of the most significant drivers of turnover–– workplace violence. With nearly one in four nurses reporting being physically assaulted at work and many more experiencing verbal abuse, healthcare organizations face a direct connection between workplace safety and staff retention.

In today's healthcare landscape, de-escalation training has evolved from a recommended practice to an essential compliance requirement. The alarming rise in workplace violence incidents against healthcare workers has prompted regulatory bodies to implement increasingly stringent standards and requirements.

Nurses embody compassion, empathy, and love in their everyday interactions with patients, making them an indispensable part of healthcare. However, their safety is often compromised in the line of duty, particularly in today's climate of heightened tensions and workplace violence. As a former U.S. Marine Corps veteran and someone who grew up in a violent environment, I’ve seen firsthand the...

“Active Assailants in Healthcare: The Pros, Cons and Ethics of Run, Hide, Fight Training ” 

Host: Lisa Terry

Guests: Stephanie Doty, MSN, MBA, RN, CHSP, CPHRM, Doug Kohlsdorf, CPP, Karen Garvey, MPA/HCN, BSN, DFASHRM, CHPHRM, CPPS, Michael Dunning, CHPA.

To watch the podcast discussion of this video, click here.  

“Going Beyond the Use of Force in Healthcare ” 

Host: Lisa Terry

Guests: Jill Weisensel, M.S., Tony York, CPP, CHPA, Robert Whiteside, CHPA, and Thomas Smith, CHPA, CPP.

To watch the podcast discussion of this video, click here.  

This entry is part three in a three part series from How to Best Train Contact Professionals. Click here to read part 1 of 3, or click here to read part 2 of 3.