Nevada AB 348 – Requiring Workplace Violence Training in Healthcare Settings

Nevada AB 348, passed into law on June 13, 2019, relates to occupational safety and health, and requires certain medical facilities to develop and carry out a plan for the prevention of workplace violence including staff training and the reporting of workplace violence incidents to the Division of Industrial Relations of the Department of Business and Industry.

Key sections of Nevada AB 348 include: 

• Nevada AB 348 will be effective in two waves:
  • Hospitals and other psychiatric facilities must comply by July 1, 2020.
  • Other medical facilities, such as certain large agencies, nursing homes, independent centers for emergency medical car, facilities for intermediate care, facilities for skilled nursing, facilities for modified medical detoxification, and community triage centers must comply by July 1, 2021.  

• Nevada AB 348 requires that medical facilities establish a committee on workplace safety. The purpose of the workplace safety committee is to develop and maintain a plan for the prevention of and response to workplace violence. The plan must:
  • Be in writing.
  • Be in effect at all times.
  • Be viewable by each employee of the medical facility or other care provider at the medical facility at all times.
  • Be specific for each unit, area, or location maintained by the medical facility.
  • Be developed in collaboration with the committee on workplace violence.

• The workplace violence prevention plan also requires that all new employees of the medical facility and other providers of care are trained in workplace violence. This includes:
  • When a new plan for workplace violence in implemented.
  • Upon commencing employment and annually thereafter.
  • Upon commencing new job duties in a new location of the medical facility or in a new assignment in a new location in the medical facility.
  • When a previously unrecognized hazard is identified or there is a material change in the facility requiring a change to the workplace violence plan.

• Training requirements must address the risks of workplace violence that an employee or other provider of care may reasonably anticipate on their job. The training must include:
  • An explanation of the plan, the manner in which the medical facility plans to address incidents of workplace violence, the manner in which the medical facility plans to address incidents of workplace violence, how employees may participate in reviewing and revising the plan and other information that is required under the plan.
  • Recognizing situations that may result in workplace violence.
  • When and how to respond to and seek assistance in preventing or responding to workplace violence.
  • Reporting incidents of workplace violence to the medical facility and public safety agencies when appropriate.
  • Resources for employees and providers of care when coping with incidents of workplace violence such as a debriefing process to aid in recovering from incidents of workplace violence.
  • For each employee or other provider of care who has contact with patients, training concerning verbal intervention and de-escalation techniques that:
    • Allow to practice those techniques with others.
    • Includes a meeting to debrief each practice session conducted.

• To investigate and respond to incidents of workplace violence, the plan adopted must include:
  • An effective response to each incident of workplace violence designed to ensure staff of the medical facility are trained to address such incidents and designated to be available to immediately assist in the response to an incident without interrupting patient care.
  • Ability of each employee to identify workplace violence.
  • Counseling to each employee and other provider of care affected by an incident of workplace violence.
  • An opportunity to debrief as soon as possible after an incident of workplace violence.
  • Ability to review any patient-specific risk factors and measures to reduce those factors.
  • A review of the implementation and effectiveness of corrective measures taken under the plan.
  • An opportunity to solicit feedback from those involved in an incident of workplace violence concerning the precipitating factors and other preventative measures.
  

  Photo: klenger / Shutterstock

CPI Training Can Help Your Facility Comply With Nevada Assembly Bill 348 
CPI offers training and resources to help healthcare facilities meet legislative mandates like the policy requirements set forth in the Nevada Assembly Bill 348. Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® training equips staff with techniques for both the prevention of and the safe use of restraint. Our train-the-trainer program helps staff identify underlying causes of resident behaviors, and how staff and resident behaviors affect each other. The program also emphasizes: 

• Evaluating risk of harm and signs of distress. 
• Documenting incidents. 
• Safer, less restrictive holding skills to be used only as a last resort. 
• Behavioral supports. 
• Implementing evidence-based practices. 

How to Get Training 
We can bring the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® training program on-site to your facility, or you can attend training in one of more than 170 public locations throughout the US. 

 
How Our Free CPI Alignment Can Give You Peace of Mind—and Help You Comply
For 30 years, CPI has supported healthcare organizations that strive to provide the safest environment for staff, patients and visitors. One of the ways CPI goes the extra mile to help healthcare facilities ensure that they comply with new and existing legislation is to have our legal department compose and publish Alignment documents that help administrators and their legal advisors compare an inventory of what specific legislation requires of them and how CPI training can ensure they comply.  
 
Our Alignment for Nevada AB 348 is designed to assist you identify the ways in which CPI’s Nonviolent Crisis Intervention^® training program can help your organization fulfill the requirements of the bill. 
  
More Resources 
Get helpful hints for crisis intervention and learn about CPI training and restraint reduction.