Red Cross, Nursing Council develop violence de-escalation course

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has supported the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to develop a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course on preventing violence in Nigeria. Mr James Matthews, Deputy Head of Delegation, ICRC, said the support reflected the organisation’s commitment to creating safer environments for healthcare workers, patients and communities, where violence would not become routine.

Matthews said this on Wednesday in Abuja at a three-day workshop organised by the NMCN to develop the CPD course on De-escalation of Violence in Healthcare Settings specifically for practising nurses. He said research on violence affecting healthcare delivery in Nigeria highlighted the need to address challenge while strengthening capacity to prevent, recognise and respond to situations that could escalate into violence.

According to him, healthcare workers should perform their duties in environments where they are treated with dignity and respect. He emphasised that violence should not become an accepted feature of healthcare delivery. Matthews said the CPD course would complement work already undertaken with the NMCN to strengthen Protection of Healthcare within nursing education, while translating foundational knowledge into practical skills for nurses practising.

He explained that de-escalation was not about managing difficult behaviour, but involved effective communication, recognising early warning signs, appropriate intervention, personal safety and preserving healthcare workers’ ability to continue providing care. The ICRC official commended NMCN for leading the development of a structured professional response to violence in healthcare settings, while appreciating experts and practitioners participating in the workshop for contributing experience.

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