Paeds Cases · professional-practice-and-evidence
Managing an angry parent at the bedside — OSCE
OSCE on de-escalating a distressed but non-violent parent on the ward using a structured verbal approach, with attention to safety, acknowledgement and follow-up.
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Target exams
MRCPCH ClinicalRACP DCERCPSC Pediatrics
Prompt
A father is shouting at the nurses' station because his 6-year-old daughter's scan result, promised yesterday, has not arrived; he is distressed but has no weapon and is not violent; the child is stable on the ward; a nurse and a private side room are available.
Station brief (8–10 minutes)
You are called to the ward where a father is shouting at the nurses' station about a delayed scan result. De-escalate the situation, address his concerns, and agree a clear plan and follow-up. Do not attempt de-escalation if you judge there to be an active threat; instead, secure safety. Do not invent local statutory wording or specific regulatory timeframes. [5]
References4ShowHide
- [5]Richmond JS Verbal De-escalation of the Agitated Patient: Consensus Statement of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry Project BETA De-escalation Workgroup. Western journal of emergency medicine, 2012.PMID 22461917
- [3]Steinmetz D The 'difficult patient' as perceived by family physicians. Family practice, 2001.PMID 11604370
- [1]Hickson GB Patient complaints and malpractice risk. JAMA, 2002.PMID 12052124
- [6]Schneiderman LJ Effect of ethics consultations on nonbeneficial life-sustaining treatments in the intensive care setting: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 2003.PMID 12952998