Enraged (venting)

Specialties Emergency

Published

OK, I know y'all can relate...

Tonight I received a 23yoM, out drinking and driving, hitting parked cars. He already has 2 felony DUI's on his records.

He fought with fire department on scene (no head injury - he was just a drunk jerk), EMS on scene, police on scene; en route was kicking my medics and the police. He arrives and is still screaming and trying to swing while handcuffed to the cart.

I *tried* my very best to remain calm and therapeutic, but could only tolerate so much of the, "I refuse, you can't touch me, I'm suing you because my dad's a lawyer, and you can't let them take me to jail because I want to go home," while he attempts to swing, swears, and spits. He made mistake number one at that point by grabbing at my hand and squeezing until my hand popped (I filed charge number one at this point).

He smelled so strongly of ETOH it made the eyes water, and of course, he ended up in CT scan.

He fought and carried on over there, getting tazed several times. I ran over and medicated with Haldol and Ativan, but it was like spitting in the wind. Head blocks were gone, c-collar askew, and un-even on the LSB.

For a few minutes he chilled out and I once again explained everything. The CT tech needed his arms above his head, so I explained that I would remain at his side to care for him, and help him hold his arms. He said, "Whatever." (Meanwhile my tech and 5 policemen were on the other side of the glass watching).

I put on the lead, and was helping him hold his arms, and he screamed, "Let go of me you 'effin B*tch!" He then pulled an arm free and punched my chest (mistake number two, and charge number two filed) and face (mistake number three, and charge number three filed).

I lost my cool at that point and completely lost it. I'm ashamed to admit that without thinking, and in order to get away, I punched him very hard and quick 3 times in the chest so he would let go of my other arm (and it worked).

The police were all over him like a cheap suit. I told him that we were done playing the easy way, and he would now be going down the hard road, and told him I was taking him back to the ER to paralyze and intubate him.

He cried all the way back.

I'm just irritated that such a young man is wasting his life an potential and doesn't even care (he could have killed someone!). I'm furious that he thought he had to right to assault me. And I'm even more enraged that I lost my cool and responded the way I did.

Any tips for calming down?

Police/correction officers are taught to use reasonable force/proportionate

to the threat.........you followed correct procedure based on those rules.

I know we are not police/correction officers, but sometimes we have

to act to save/protect ourselves or others.

You did good.

Specializes in primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, NICU.

It sounds to me like you were defending yourself and fighting him off. End of story.

Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

Most of the ER docs I know would have paralyzed........looked over the assortment of blades..........looked over the assortment of tubes.......... bent the stylette to their exacting specifications.......maybe whispered some advice into the patients ear..... THen they would intubate.

I'm sorry about what happend. Take some rest and a hot bath!

Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
And BRAVO to you for pressing charges!!! :yelclap:

:yeahthat: :yelclap::yelclap::yelclap::yelclap::yelclap:

Specializes in SICU, EMS, Home Health, School Nursing.

I went through a similar situation not too long ago except my patient wasn't drunk, he had no reason to assult us. Ours went crazy while we were in MRI and he ended up throwing things and hitting us, etc. We ended up having to call a code violet (violent individual) to get help because it was the weekend and it was only 3 of us girls vs. one very strong guy. Before security could get there we did manage to get him pinned to a chair against the wall. He later told us "I'm surprised you nurses were that strong" We didn't end up pressing charges on him... probably should have though. We all ended up with bruises and scratches from that one.

Why feel sorry for being human. What you did was a natural reaction and no need to calm down.

OK, I know y'all can relate...

Tonight I received a 23yoM, out drinking and driving, hitting parked cars. He already has 2 felony DUI's on his records.

He fought with fire department on scene (no head injury - he was just a drunk jerk), EMS on scene, police on scene; en route was kicking my medics and the police. He arrives and is still screaming and trying to swing while handcuffed to the cart.

I *tried* my very best to remain calm and therapeutic, but could only tolerate so much of the, "I refuse, you can't touch me, I'm suing you because my dad's a lawyer, and you can't let them take me to jail because I want to go home," while he attempts to swing, swears, and spits. He made mistake number one at that point by grabbing at my hand and squeezing until my hand popped (I filed charge number one at this point).

He smelled so strongly of ETOH it made the eyes water, and of course, he ended up in CT scan.

He fought and carried on over there, getting tazed several times. I ran over and medicated with Haldol and Ativan, but it was like spitting in the wind. Head blocks were gone, c-collar askew, and un-even on the LSB.

For a few minutes he chilled out and I once again explained everything. The CT tech needed his arms above his head, so I explained that I would remain at his side to care for him, and help him hold his arms. He said, "Whatever." (Meanwhile my tech and 5 policemen were on the other side of the glass watching).

I put on the lead, and was helping him hold his arms, and he screamed, "Let go of me you 'effin B*tch!" He then pulled an arm free and punched my chest (mistake number two, and charge number two filed) and face (mistake number three, and charge number three filed).

I lost my cool at that point and completely lost it. I'm ashamed to admit that without thinking, and in order to get away, I punched him very hard and quick 3 times in the chest so he would let go of my other arm (and it worked).

The police were all over him like a cheap suit. I told him that we were done playing the easy way, and he would now be going down the hard road, and told him I was taking him back to the ER to paralyze and intubate him.

He cried all the way back.

I'm just irritated that such a young man is wasting his life an potential and doesn't even care (he could have killed someone!). I'm furious that he thought he had to right to assault me. And I'm even more enraged that I lost my cool and responded the way I did.

Any tips for calming down?

That guy got what was coming to him attacking everyone. Don't beat yourself up for his actions.

Specializes in medical-surgical.

andhow5 kudos to you!! You had a normal reaction and did not deserve to be assaulted. He was given the HA-HA concoction and he still acted like the Tasmanian Devil, Dr. should have intubated and so forth.Like the other poster be discreet about the "punching" business even though I say totally justifible in this circumstance, some fellow employees no matter how well meaning they are, go a little nuts with by the book and then you are on the hotseat. And AMEN that you are pressing charges, the hospital that I work in FROWNS upon this!

OK, I know y'all can relate...

Tonight I received a 23yoM, out drinking and driving, hitting parked cars. He already has 2 felony DUI's on his records.

He fought with fire department on scene (no head injury - he was just a drunk jerk), EMS on scene, police on scene; en route was kicking my medics and the police. He arrives and is still screaming and trying to swing while handcuffed to the cart.

I *tried* my very best to remain calm and therapeutic, but could only tolerate so much of the, "I refuse, you can't touch me, I'm suing you because my dad's a lawyer, and you can't let them take me to jail because I want to go home," while he attempts to swing, swears, and spits. He made mistake number one at that point by grabbing at my hand and squeezing until my hand popped (I filed charge number one at this point).

He smelled so strongly of ETOH it made the eyes water, and of course, he ended up in CT scan.

He fought and carried on over there, getting tazed several times. I ran over and medicated with Haldol and Ativan, but it was like spitting in the wind. Head blocks were gone, c-collar askew, and un-even on the LSB.

For a few minutes he chilled out and I once again explained everything. The CT tech needed his arms above his head, so I explained that I would remain at his side to care for him, and help him hold his arms. He said, "Whatever." (Meanwhile my tech and 5 policemen were on the other side of the glass watching).

I put on the lead, and was helping him hold his arms, and he screamed, "Let go of me you 'effin B*tch!" He then pulled an arm free and punched my chest (mistake number two, and charge number two filed) and face (mistake number three, and charge number three filed).

I lost my cool at that point and completely lost it. I'm ashamed to admit that without thinking, and in order to get away, I punched him very hard and quick 3 times in the chest so he would let go of my other arm (and it worked).

The police were all over him like a cheap suit. I told him that we were done playing the easy way, and he would now be going down the hard road, and told him I was taking him back to the ER to paralyze and intubate him.

He cried all the way back.

I'm just irritated that such a young man is wasting his life an potential and doesn't even care (he could have killed someone!). I'm furious that he thought he had to right to assault me. And I'm even more enraged that I lost my cool and responded the way I did.

Any tips for calming down?

First, I think you need to stop working with this type of patient. You assaulted and battered a patient, which could very well be felonious. You'd better check with a lawyer ASAP, I think.

Your upset is perfectly understandable. No one should have to deal with this mess. But I am not sure that a nurse has the right to strike a patient. I suppose a case could be made for self-defense.

Police/correction officers are taught to use reasonable force/proportionate

to the threat.........you followed correct procedure based on those rules.

I know we are not police/correction officers, but sometimes we have

to act to save/protect ourselves or others.

The OP really needs to know and follow policy at his workplace. Maybe he should have called Security.

:yeahthat:

I hope eveything turns out OK for you and bad (jail time for him).

He is ill, let's not forget. He has an addiction to alcohol. Addiction. A person will sell his soul to satisfy a craving when addicted. It is an illness and the person deserves treatment. He might need jail, too. But he definitely needs treatment. And to be forgiven. There, but for the grace of God, go you and I.

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