Do you arrest abusive patients?

Specialties Emergency

Published

We are having a debate on and off about whether or not to arrest someone who is abusive in the ED.

Not someone who has assaulted a staff memeber...that's a "no brainer"...bye bye my friend...enjoy your new wardrobe of orange!

I'm talking about those who threaten you or are verbally abusive.

I realize that we would be filling up the jail cells...but the PD should have plenty of room...since they bring IN all those drunks who are "Too drunk to go to jail" anyway...

I'm not sure if it's worth it or not.

Any thoughts...

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

One of our security guards is a male who is 4-11 and weighs 90# soaking wet! However, we don't tolerate mouthiness either.

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Don't you think there should be some guidelines when it comes to security?

You know...able to AT LEAST protect themselves!

I personally think they should all be off-duty police...

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Specializes in Step down, ICU, ER, PACU, Amb. Surg.

No cops in our ED....just security and most of them little fellas. Now a security guard with a walker brings a hysterical picture to mind!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! As for catching 2 employees doing the horizontal mambo....well, they say you should never crap where you eat...nuff said! hehehehe!

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No cops in our ED....just security and most of them little fellas. Now a security guard with a walker brings a hysterical picture to mind!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! As for catching 2 employees doing the horizontal mambo....well, they say you should never crap where you eat...nuff said! hehehehe!

I personally caught nurses twice myself doing the "horizonal mambo" (I LOVE that by the way!!)...

Once with a surgeon in the stairwell (now THAT was embarrassing!)

And once in the parking lot!

Well...the parking lot may not have been that...

I mean that car could have been bouncing up and down for something else I suppose!!!

:chuckle

My God...get a room!!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing Advanced Practice.

our hospital security is very weak and NOT intimidating.

Our hospital security has a complete hands off approach, they can only observe and report. I have been involved in several assault scenarios as an ED nurse. Hospital has never supported any legal action against patients who assault staff. Without hospital support the local prosecutor is not likely to pursue either so these dregs of society get to come back and do it again.

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Our hospital security has a complete hands off approach, they can only observe and report. I have been involved in several assault scenarios as an ED nurse. Hospital has never supported any legal action against patients who assault staff. Without hospital support the local prosecutor is not likely to pursue either so these dregs of society get to come back and do it again.

Oh my...

How can your hospital be soooooo blind?!?

You know you can sign a complaint WITHOUT your hospitals support...the assault is against YOU.

Also, isn't there something in OSHA regs about a safe work environment?

It's hard enough with the psychs who have no control...

But the drunks who come in and try to urinate on staff and come in swearing and swinging...Those guys need to be arrested.

I know it's just my opinion...but that behavior is not tolerated ANYWHERE...not in a bar...not in a store...nowhere...why should we?

They take up our precious time and resources...why?

Because PD doesn't want them sobering up in their jail...but that's where they belong.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing Advanced Practice.
Oh my...

How can your hospital be soooooo blind?!?

You know you can sign a complaint WITHOUT your hospitals support...the assault is against YOU.

Also, isn't there something in OSHA regs about a safe work environment?

It's hard enough with the psychs who have no control...

But the drunks who come in and try to urinate on staff and come in swearing and swinging...Those guys need to be arrested.

I know it's just my opinion...but that behavior is not tolerated ANYWHERE...not in a bar...not in a store...nowhere...why should we?

They take up our precious time and resources...why?

Because PD doesn't want them sobering up in their jail...but that's where they belong.

Yes I can file the complaint, but if the hospital does not get involved then often the prosecutor just drops it and I do not have time for civil litigation.

We now have a "Crisis Intervention team" of our local police depts. basically if a drunk says the magic word "suicide" the CIT leaps into action for a kinder gentler trip to the ER instead of sleeping it off in jail (WHICH IS WHERE THEY BELONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

I am so sick of touchy, feely, psychobabble. If you say the right words you don't go to jail, you have to be evaluated at the ER as you might hurt yourself. hey, pro-choice in action I say. It is okay to kill a fetus but you cannot kill yourself. I say show them how!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
We have one security officer who uses a walker.
are you kidding?

sheesh. that is real security all right. I see your hospital really cares for the safety of its employees....not.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Where my fil does security, they NEED big, beefy, tough types (like him)...they have so many psych cases, drunks going into DT's, etc.....no guy in a walker is gonna tackle that 250-lb superhuman strength of a man induced by drug use, noper. I can't believe how lax security is in so many places. That is unreal.

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Like I said before...I think they should be off duty PD.

Big guys with big guns...

Or at least handcuffs!

Last druggie we had that was in four points nearly flipped his cart over trying to get out of them!!

Where would "walker-security-man" be then?

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

and pepper spray also

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and pepper spray also

Man...you guys in Texas get all the FUN toys!!

You get pepper spray!

I'm movin'!!!

:rotfl:

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