A Behavioral Health Care Model for Early Risk Identification and Safer Response

Hosted by the AONL-AHA Learning Community

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 12 PM CT

A Behavioral Health Care Model for Early Risk Identification and Safer Response

Workplace violence in behavioral health settings threatens staff safety, undermines confidence and can increase reliance on restrictive interventions. This session explores how a standardized care and safety model using the Modified Agitation Severity Scale (MASS) and Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression (DASA) tools helped create more consistent risk identification, assessment, documentation and leader oversight across behavioral health inpatient units.

Attendees will hear how this proactive approach supported earlier de-escalation, reduced variation in practice and strengthened staff confidence in managing aggression. Results include a reduction in workplace violence incidents, decreased restraint use and a growing strategy for enterprise-wide scale. This session offers practical insights for nurse leaders working to improve safety, reliability and staff experience in behavioral health settings.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify practical strategies for implementing a standardized behavioral health safety model, including assessment workflows, documentation practices and leader oversight, to reduce workplace violence and restraint use.

About the Presenters

Jennifer Ziccardi, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President, Behavioral Health Service Line, NC/GA Divisions, Atrium Health

Jennifer Ziccardi is responsible for the clinical and administrative oversight for nursing, quality and regulatory requirements for the divisional service line. Ms. Ziccardi ultimately aims to provide operational synergy among the system’s inpatient behavioral health hospitals and units.  Ms. Ziccardi leads the system’s Zero Suicide Campaign which aims to introduce suicide prevention strategies across the health system. She co-leads many enterprise initiatives including: Workplace Violence Prevention and Prediction core team, Nursing Best Place to Care and Universal Suicide Screening implementation.

Shannon Miles, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, Associate Vice President - Patient Care, Atrium Behavioral Health Charlotte

Shannon Miles is a visionary healthcare executive with a master's in nursing leadership and a proven track record in nursing administration. She leads strategic initiatives to improve patient care, clinical outcomes and operational efficiency. At Centra Health, she spearheaded the launch of an EmPATH unit. Shannon excels in staff development, financial management and quality improvement. A recipient of multiple leadership awards, she is a Certified Nurse Executive Advanced, committed to advancing patient-centered care and fostering a culture of excellence.

Veronica Hughes, MSN, RN, Vice President, Behavioral Health Nursing Strategy & Quality, IL/WI Divisions, Advocate Health

Dedicated to enhancing workplace safety and behavioral health. Leads initiatives to address workplace violence through education and collaboration. Integrates suicide prevention efforts, and promotes behavioral health by standardizing safety interventions and exploring virtual care opportunities.

The American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning Community Webinars offer attendees the opportunity to earn up to 1.0 contact hours.
AONL is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider number 15740.

By attending a Learning Community Webinar offered by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership participants may earn up to 1 ACHE Qualifying Education Hours toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation.