When did it become ok for patients to do this

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

I've been working as a CNA for a few weeks now and I've been hearing and seeing in the news about the horror stories about patients being physically abused and sexually assaulted by the caregivers. But what do you do when a patient sexually harasses you? I have not one but two patients who every night make it their business to make sexual comments and advances towards me every night. At first I tried to laugh it off and let it go thinking that it was nothing major but I feel completely uncomfortable with this situation. My usual supervisor is aware of this situation as well but does and says nothing against it and others girls have also told me that these particular patients have done this to them as well. Who do I got to since my supervisor isn't any help here?

The way we were trained to handle this was as follows. Stop what you're doing. Look them straight in face and repeat what they've said to you. In my experience this will usually stop them when they hear how inappropriate they've been. Next step is to tell them that their behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We were taught to treat them like a two year old when these innopropriate behaviours occur (it may sound harsh but it works and we're not there to be ogled and groped). If they think you're nervous or uncomfortable they'll keep at it just to wind you up. Touchy feely dementia patients are a little more difficult. I keep an eye on their hands (and feet) at all times as my residents can try to slap your bottom one minute and box you the next (they aren't sedated). Residents with these behaviours have assistance from two anyway which makes it a little safer.

Ugh, blech, yuck. I hate these situations. I am typically a very non-confrontational, bubbly, sweet girl. Many people interpret that as being flirtatious, which I am most definitely NOT. When I first started my job (as an ophthalmic tech), I got many comments about my size/body which were very uncomfortable to deal with (I am very petite/was a dancer). Since then I have learned to minimize my makeup, keep my hair up in a bun, and definitely NOT wear any clothes that show my body -- loose scrubs and lab coats all the way for me. It helps minimize the subject even coming up, though I know lab coats are not commonplace for RNs.

Specializes in Acute Rehab, IMCU, ED, med-surg.

The approach that has worked best for me is to look directly at the patient/resident (if A&O) with strong, confident eye contact and say something to the effect of "that is inappropriate and you may not do (say) that" while stepping out of arm's reach (if the person is grabbing me, if that doesn't compromise patient safety). People become uncomfortable with being looked at directly, and will usually break their gaze first. Appropriate, professional, assertiveness is a good place to start, and hopefully will remove the "fun" of making you uncomfortable. With a confused patient, do your best. Redirect and distract, but be sure to also inform them that touching you/saying inappropriate things is not OK. Sometimes these little old demented men get confused in the middle of the night and mistake you for their deceased wife (I've figured this one out based on the name they address me with. . ."is that you, Louise??")

If that doesn't work, inform the nurse caring for the patient, further on up the chain if you get blown off. (Actually, be sure to tell the nurse caring for the patient so they know what happened and can integrate this challenge into their management of the patient's care.) Also, don't forget to talk to the CNA relieving you about the behavior so they, too, may do whatever limit-setting they need to to manage the patient/resident.

Thank goodness for male CNAs and nurses! Sometimes they're just the ticket for the resident/patient that can't/won't stop being inappropriate with female staff. :no:

...Thank goodness for male CNAs and nurses! Sometimes they're just the ticket for the resident/patient that can't/won't stop being inappropriate with female staff. :no:

I am a male, and I approve this response. :yes:

As I read the first few posts in this thread, I thought about how cool it'll be to see the look on some old perv's face when I walk in to relieve his nurse at his much-anticipated peri-care time. I never thought I'd look forward to doing personal care on someone. :yuck: But to surprise some old chester? Heck yeah, sign me up! (as long as the nurse helps me out when some LOL grabs my glutes)!

What movie was it where the dude thinks he's about to get a "sponge bath" from a cute nurse and she switches with some large Village-People-looking dude? Maybe a "Scrubs" episode...

The approach that has worked best for me is to look directly at the patient/resident (if A&O) with strong, confident eye contact... People become uncomfortable with being looked at directly, and will usually break their gaze first...

Careful with this if you decide to work in corrections nursing... there it's called "mad-doggin'", and will get you into a bit trouble! "You mad-doggin' me, boogalina?!" :mad:

I just read a short story in, "When Chicken Soup isn't Enough". There was a group of nurses who brainstormed how to deal with this situation in an empowering, yet non confrontational way. They would have a stack of cards at the work station. If they encountered a patient acting in this way, they would simply hand them a red card. The card stated that their behaviour was inappropriate in this environment. The nurses kept a pink card which reminded them to breathe, state that the behaviour was unacceptable and a number to report the incident. Maybe not the only option, but I thought it was kind of a neat idea.

Specializes in Acute Rehab, IMCU, ED, med-surg.

Careful with this if you decide to work in corrections nursing... there it's called "mad-doggin'", and will get you into a bit trouble! "You mad-doggin' me, boogalina?!" :mad:

Duly noted. Of course inmates are a different kettle of soup, so to speak. Used to go "inside" quite a bit in a prior career. Never got accused of "mad doggin'" so must have been doing it right! Not planning on a corrections nursing career except as concerns admits to my hospital from the fine local slams. :)

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