Professional Resources

Consultation: The clinical and research literature suggest that patient, staff, and environmental factors collectively contribute to aggressive patient behavior (Gage & Kingdom, 1995; Gates et al, 2003). Frequent patient factors include thinking problems (e.g., dementia), anxiety, pain, sensory deficits, frustration, anger, sleep deprivation, poor impulse control, and inability to communicate. Staff contributions to such behavior include lack of training, inadequate training, disrespectful or overbearing attitude, inappropriate communications (harsh voice, rushed behavior), and acting out of stress. Major environmental conditions that can trigger aggressive patient behavior include noise and other noxious stimuli, crowded spaces, temperature, odors, restraints, and the presence of other disturbed patients (Munns Hall, 1990).

A key component to success in managing this situation is educating rehabilitation staff regarding the risk factors for aggressive patient behaviors and providing them with effective and targeted skills to prevent and manage these behaviors. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) helps to form the linkage of staff behavior with the interaction between cognitive, affective, and environmental influences (Bandera, 1977). During training sessions, the staff practice 12 aggression prevention skills, discuss a variety of patient situations (social), and role-play how to handle aggressive situations (cognitive) while receiving positive reinforcement and practice.

References
The style of references is that described in the fifth edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) (2001). References used in the text should be cited by author's name and date of publication in parentheses (Stuifbergen & Harrison, 2003), with page numbers cited for direct quotations. All references cited in the text must be included in the reference list.

The reference list should include only references cited in the text in alphabetical order. The references must be verified by the author(s) against the original documents. Examples of correct forms of references follow.

Standard journal article: List all authors.
Ryden, M., Bossenmaier, M., & McLachlan, C. (1991). Aggressive behavior in cognitively impaired nursing home residents. Research in Nursing and Health, 14(2), 87-95.

Books and other monographs:
Zejdlik, C.P. (1992). Management of spinal cord injury (2nd ed.). Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Chapter in edited text:
Fowler, E. (1990). Chronic wounds: An overview. In D. Krasner (Ed.), Chronic wound care: A clinical source book for healthcare professionals (pp. 12-18). King of Prussia, PA: Health Management Publications, Inc.

References to commercial entities or products
Specific reference by name to commercial entities or products is strongly discouraged in the interest of scientific objectivity. The entity or product should be described in a general fashion. If it is absolutely necessary to use a specific name—such as in a report of a study that compared two very specific products—the appropriate trademark (™) or registered mark (®) should be used with the trade name the first time it is used.

Copyright
The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses will hold copyright on all articles published in Rehabilitation Nursing. A copyright transfer agreement signed by all authors will be requested on publication of the manuscript. Manuscripts that are published in the journal become the property of ARN, and reprint or reproduction permission must be obtained from ARN. Reprints may be purchased from the publisher.

Manuscript Submission/Checklist
Please submit your manuscript on a CD-ROM to Gail Pannozzo, Editorial Assistant, Rehabilitation Nursing, 4700 W. Lake Avenue, Glenview, IL 60025-1485 or send as an attached PC compatible Word document to gpannozzo@connect2amc.com. One author should be designated as correspondent in the cover letter. The journal is not responsible for lost manuscripts.

__ Designate a corresponding author in the cover letter and provide that author's address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address.
__ Provide job title(s), professional credentials, work affiliation(s) for inclusion in an author biography.
__ Use APA (5th ed.) format; leave right margins unjustified.
__ Ensure content addresses a persistent, pervasive dilemma for Rehabilitation Nursing readers.
__ Discuss implications for practice.
__ Provide references in proper format, alphabetized, and ensure that each reference is cited in the text.
__ If mailing your manuscript be sure to include a CD-ROM.