The purpose of this thesis was to research preparedness of graduating nursing students to confront a violent adult patient. Second goal was to collect information of schools’ sufficiency of given teaching and possibility of further education. Target group for this research were the students of Oulu University of Applied Sciences who study nursing and are doing their advanced special studies.

The research was carried out as questionnaire inquire and the questionnaires were given to 89 nursing students. Questions of questionnaire were based on the framework and it was made with structured questions which were used to map out the preparedness of the students to confront a violent patient. The material was collected with help of the lecturers of the given advanced special studies. Statistical questions were presented with statistical methods.

56 students answered the questionnaire and response rate was 72 %. Results of the questionnaire were following: Almost every student had confronted a violent patient during practical studies or in nursing job. The violent situation was unpleasant for many students and many of them came up against physical and psychical violence. Based on the research 89.3 % of students felt that they can predict when a violent situation would take place and 83.3 % felt that they have necessary skills to survive the situation. Based on the research 76.7 % of the students felt that current study program doesn’t give enough tools to survive a violent situation.

The theory portion of the thesis deals with the basis of functional quantitive thesis, evaluating the risk of violence, prevention of violence, confronting a violent patient and MAPA-operating model. Theory portion of the thesis also describes necessary theory behind the questionnaire. Further studies can be carried out as themed questionnaire in which the results of this study are basis of it.