De-escalation and preventive strategies in cases of violence
Objective: The worksheet aims to teach learners de-escalation and prevention strategies for dealing with violence. It is designed to raise awareness of the causes and forms of violence and to train learners in the ability to act professionally and non-violently in stressful situations.
Content and methods: The worksheet defines violence as the use of physical or psychological means to harm or control others. It identifies stress, overload, and a lack of de-escalation strategies as common causes. Prevention strategies are presented at the individual, team, and institutional levels. The methods include listening to an audio scenario, answering fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice questions, and creating an infographic in which learners are asked to develop de-escalation and prevention measures in a group setting.
Competences:
- Conflict management: Understanding and applying de-escalation strategies
- Self-reflection: Questioning one's own reactions in emotionally stressful situations
- Problem solving: Developing comprehensive solutions for violence prevention
- Teamwork: Collaborative development of strategies
Target group and level: Trainees in the nursing profession and others interested in deescalation strategies
50 other teachers use this template
Target group and level
Trainees in the nursing profession and others interested in deescalation strategies
Subjects
De-escalation and preventive strategies in cases of violence


Assignment
Listen to the situation and answer the following questions.

Assignment
Allocate the correct terms and select the correct statements.
Fill in the blanks with the correct terms.

Assignment
Consider what measures can be taken, and then read the information text.
List 5 measures that can have a preventive effect.
Headline: Effective Strategies for Preventing and De-escalating Domestic Violence
Violence is the use of physical or psychological means to harm, dominate, or control another person against their will. Common causes include stress, overload, lack of de-escalation strategies, and challenging patients or relatives. Prevention and de-escalation require individual measures such as: 1) self-reflection to recognise personal limits and triggers, 2) clear, respectful communication to prevent misunderstandings, 3) active stress management through relaxation techniques and healthy work-life balance, 4) seeking supervision or peer support to process difficult situations, and 5) setting firm boundaries and saying “no” to inappropriate demands. These approaches empower individuals to interrupt cycles of aggression, foster resilience, and maintain professional integrity, even in high-pressure environments.

Assignment
Get together in groups of 3–4 people and listen to the situation again.
Your task is to consider: “What measures for de-escalation or prevention could be helpful in this situation?”
- Use both the strategies from the worksheet and your own ideas.
- First, write down your thoughts in bullet points.
- Then work together to create an infographic that clearly presents the possible options.
Discuss the results presented and think together about whether you can think of any other measures.
In your group, create an infographic showing possible measures for de-escalation and prevention.
Do you have any other ideas or measures that should be mentioned?
Solution for teachers