While assisting a resident in the shower, he becomes angry and starts hitting you. What should you do first?

While assisting a resident in the shower, he becomes angry and starts hitting you. What should you do first?

• A. Back away from the resident and allow him time to calm himself
• B. Use active listening techniques to determine why he's upset
• C. Assist him out of the shower so he will not fall and injure himself
• D. Report the incident to your supervisor

Answer: (C)

When a resident becomes aggressive in a risk-filled environment, the first priority is safety. In a shower, the floor is wet and slippery, increasing the chance of slips, falls, and injuries for both of you. The best initial action is to assist him out of the shower to a dry, safer area so you can prevent a fall or being struck and you can regain control of the situation more effectively. Once you’ve moved him to safety, you can seek help, report the incident, and use calm, de-escalation approaches as appropriate. Other steps are important too, but they don’t address the immediate danger in the wet shower environment first.

When a resident becomes aggressive in a risk-filled environment, the first priority is safety. In a shower, the floor is wet and slippery, increasing the chance of slips, falls, and injuries for both of you. The best initial action is to assist him out of the shower to a dry, safer area so you can prevent a fall or being struck and you can regain control of the situation more effectively. Once you’ve moved him to safety, you can seek help, report the incident, and use calm, de-escalation approaches as appropriate. Other steps are important too, but they don’t address the immediate danger in the wet shower environment first.