Summary
When it comes to workplace violence in healthcare, there are so many factors outside our control – but that doesn’t mean we’re powerless.
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kelly Austin, Vice President of Hospital Workplace Violence at KLA Risk Consulting, to talk about the real, tangible ways healthcare leaders can reduce injuries and protect their teams. We unpack the biggest gaps in hospital workplace violence prevention – from under-involving frontline staff to one-size-fits-all training – and explore how leaders can make small, smart shifts to get big results.
If you’ve ever wondered how to truly involve your employees, what effective training actually looks like, or how to spot and de-escalate agitation before it turns violent, this is the episode for you.
About Dr. Kelly Austin
Dr. Kelly Austin is the Vice President of the Hospital Workplace Violence division of KLA Risk Consulting. In 2014, she embarked on a 10-month gap-analysis of the annual rise in hospital violence rates, including ambulatory services. This work led her to create KLA’s Hospital Assault Response and Prevention (HARP®) Protocol. The Protocol includes hospital-specific workplace violence training, a comprehensive gap analysis process, incident consulting and more. Dr. Austin and her team review hospital violence best practices worldwide to maintain the highest efficacy of each component of the Protocol.
Dr. Austin also speaks nationwide on various topics within the realm of hospital workplace violence. She is an active member of the Ohio Organization of Nurse Leaders (OONL), American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), Florida Organization of Nurse Leaders (FONL) and the Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL).
Things You’ll Learn
- Why frontline staff must be part of your workplace violence prevention strategy
- The #1 preventable cause of injury in hospitals (and how to fix it)
- The “distance is your friend” rule — and why staying too close puts you at risk
- How to use a simple QR-coded survey to start employee engagement
- Why one-size-fits-all training doesn’t work — and what to do instead
- The critical role of awareness, intuition, and staying in your “objective adult” mode
- How to balance online and in-person training for different risk levels
Resources
- Connect with Dr. Kelly Austin on LinkedIn
- Visit Kelly’s website: KLA Risk Consulting
- Email Dr. Austin: [email protected]
- Download your copy of our 33 Scripts to Address Disruptive Behavior When You Don’t Know What to Say
- Check out Renee Thompson’s book Enough! Eradicating Bullying & Incivility: Strategies for Front Line Leaders here!
- Check out Renee Thompson’s book Do No Harm Applies to Nurses Too! Strategies to Protect and Bully-proof Yourself at Work here!
- Learn more about the Eradicating Bullying & Incivility eLearning Program here!
Have a question for Renee?
Email us at [email protected] to have your leadership question featured in an upcoming Q&A episode!
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