SPIT AT....AGAIN!

Specialties Emergency

Published

I am so tired of being spit on by patients! We all know the aggressive, out of control patients that spit. You're attempting four point restraints, they're growling snarling, someone holds their head so you won't get bit as 10 people try to restrain the maniac then comes the sound.....hawk! That I-am-collecting-a-large-loogey-in-the-back-of-my-throat-to-hit-you-in-the-face-with-sound. Anybody have a solution. Clearly regular masks don't work because they thrash around, get them dislodged, plus you risk being bitten while placing it. I was thinking bipap but it's pretty hard to get an order for bipap because someone is violent. Anyone come up with a solution for spitters? They're pretty hard to control. Our psych population has been unusually high lately for the summer and my fuse is wearing short.

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Did I miss-read something MassED? Please do not make me go back and read all that mess again! I concede!

My point (which maybe should not have pointed at you:lol2:) was simply that rather than this turning into nurses arguing with each other it should instead be about how we can rise up and demand protocols for our own safety and do it together so it will be effective.

Sorry again!

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Specializes in ER.
Did I miss-read something MassED? Please do not make me go back and read all that mess again! I concede!

My point (which maybe should not have pointed at you:lol2:) was simply that rather than this turning into nurses arguing with each other it should instead be about how we can rise up and demand protocols for our own safety and do it together so it will be effective.

Sorry again!

no biggie. My point had nothing to do with spitting and that situation. A moot point by now anyhow.

:beer:

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Hey MassEd - I was thinking we need to all get together and fight for a standard Duct Tape protocol.

Any spitters get there mouths duct taped and if they slap or pinch or kick then more duct tape will be applied to the appropriate limb. The hospitals should love it because it is cost effective! :smokin::smokin::smokin::smokin::smokin::smokin:

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg, ED.

I have called the local P.D. ....they have a "Hanibel Lecter" type mask that keeps the spit away from everyone except the spitter.... it has been effective.

I WISH I could have a stun-gun. It would be very useful!

Good luck!

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Specializes in ER.
Hey MassEd - I was thinking we need to all get together and fight for a standard Duct Tape protocol.

Any spitters get there mouths duct taped and if they slap or pinch or kick then more duct tape will be applied to the appropriate limb. The hospitals should love it because it is cost effective! :smokin::smokin::smokin::smokin::smokin::smokin:

:bdyhdclp:

that would be awesome.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
It was a big, dirty, scary, homeless, cat, ran around hissing and climbed up the curtains. The patients got freaked, some pulled of their leads. It was comical. All we needed was Dwight Shrute!

If there were never moments like this in nursing, I would have hung it up long ago. A very finely tuned sense of the absurd goes a looonnnng way. :jester:

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