Guideline 13: Longstanding conflict within the family

Specific Strategies

If family conflict escalates, ensure own personal safety is maintained

• If family conflict escalates, take steps to ensure your own personal safety ^65,66, including:
  • Stay a comfortable distance away from the aggressive patient or family carer.
  • Try to position yourself near the door, particularly if feeling threatened.
  • Ask another colleague (e.g. nurse, social worker) to attend consultations if there is prior knowledge of aggressive patient/family carer’s attendance.
  • If patient/family carer’s aggression continues, seek support from senior staff and/or hospital administration to form an ongoing management plan.