Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Courses CPI??

Psychcns · Mar 7, 2012

I worked at one place where everyone went through CPI training.

I worked at another place where some staff were chosen to go to CPI training and came back, put together a curriculum for the staff based on what they learned and facility policies

I think leadership can help with reducing violence...program design, inservices, review of violent episodes, teaching about what causes violence (ie frustrated needs). how incidents of violence are followed up on..ie patient comments, review with staff about what could have been done differently..

gewmac · Mar 7, 2012

Hey PsychcnsI appreciate the input. I will look into their course. Anyone can state anything on the net and a referral like yours gives them credibility

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 9, 2012

Both my prior and current psych facilities give all their unit staff CPI training. In fact, the prior facility gave everyone--even administrative and non-patient care positions--the training. It's definitely credible.

Cost-wise, however...it is pricey and IMO, I don't know if I would have taken it had I had to pay out of pocket for it. But if you ever get the chance to have your facility pay part/all of the cost, jump at it!

Whispera, MSN, RN · Mar 9, 2012

Where I've worked, someone was sent to take the instructor course. Then that person came back and trained all the psych staff, and security personnel, and re-taught everyone yearly. Having an on-site instructor was much less expensive than having everyone go to CPI for the training.

It's a valuable course, in my opinion.

gewmac · Mar 9, 2012

Thanks to all who posted on my question! I will look to see if my employer will pay part of the cost. The three comments from pschrns, whispera, and meriwhen confirm that the CPI is useful. It appears that instructor certification would be useful to put on my resume. Perhaps it will help to get that first job as an RN in psych.I just took a client to our local inpatient psych facility and noticed that staff used some of the techniques of CPI. I was impressed by their professionalism, RN's and counselors.Thank you to all who answer the newbies' questions! I appreciate it.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2012

I took it just yesterday, and it was not required of me where I work. It's only required for the charge nurses and manager on my floor. I found the non-violent techniques to fight off violent patients (and visitors) very helpful. It'll take some getting used to, because it goes against natural instinct to push your bitten hand into the patient to let go, or to push and twist the patient's wrist when your hand has been grabbed.

phattass, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2012

I've taken this yearly since it came out. It's a requirement where I work. However, this is paid for by my employer. I would NEVER pay that much for the course. Yes, it's useful, but not worth that amount of money. I also find it full of useless jargon that just complicates the basic content.

It's also really important that you take the course with the people you actually work with (if you work on a team). Learning to do a "take-down" with someone who works in medical records two buildings away isn't all that useful.

Oh...and I know more then one person who has been injured while taking this course. I'm sorry, the thought is making me laugh right now, which is not nice...but it's true, you can get injured doing CPI training.

If it's the concepts you are after, I suggest self-study online on similar topics. The ideas they teach are not revolutionary in any way. I'd save my money unless your employer steps up to cover a lot of the cost.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Mar 11, 2012

gewmac, you already know two of the skills taught in CPI training--move out of the way and talk the patient down. Since you're a nursing student, it seems you could wait awhile to see where you work after you get your license. Then your employer might pay for training such as CPI, or might have its own version of in-house training.

Ask around...you might find something much cheaper than having to spend 900-2000 for official CPI training on your own.

Psychcns · Mar 11, 2012

The other thing to add is that when you work with potential violent patients, you want a therapeutic environment. groups, routine, etc. You want to notice signs of possible violence brewing, and figure out interventions then. talk to the patient, ask them if they would like a prn, listen to how they are feeling, ask them if they would like to spend time in their room and settle down, etc....after a violent episode, it is good to process it with the patient, what caused it, what they could have done dofferently, etc. how could staff have been more helpful...

cpi has some good understanding of the cycle of violence and when to intervene...before it happens....but it is very expensive..and the skills can be learned elsewhere as other people have pointed out....

marilyn crisp · Mar 15, 2012

Having taken a number of these type of courses over the years, I would never spend money on it. All Psych employers I have ever worked for, both as a tech and a nurse have required it and provided it. When they are looking for someone to become a trainer, they will pay for it.

angelalala · Mar 31, 2012

I've taken CPI (multiple times) years ago, but I've found (at least in my area) it's falling out of favor to Safe Crisis Management and another gentle crisis management program whose name I can't remember. Basically, they're considered more. . ."hands off"/gentle than CPI (I work with kids, though; probably not ideal for working with very violent adults).