I worked 7 years in a Max Security Forensic Hospital for the criminally insane. I worked primarily with the women but spent a few years with the personality disorder males. The salary for what I was doing was not worth it anymore when I decided to resign. It had gotten so out of hand with the aggression of the clients and the severe injuries of the employees that I had to get out. The Department of Mental Health has definate problems when it comes to running a Forensic Hospital and allowing clients to hurt people over and over and nothing be done about it. I went into Corrections and let me tell you, the women I work with are very well behaved and keep in line most of the time. They know if they do something wrong they get consequences for their behavior. And even if they have a mental illness, they still know not to hit a staff or an officer. BUT at the psych hospital for the criminally insane, they can hit, bite, scratch, spit, punch, kick, pull your hair out, break your arms or legs etc etc etc and they get NO punishment for their behaviors. The most that can happen to them at the time of their actions is to be put in restraints for up to 4 hours and they lose their privilege to smoke for 24 hours. WOW a real punishment for breaking your arm huh? The State tells staff that they are preparing these clients to be able to function in society again......how are these people going to learn their lesson if they don't get any punishment for what they do? I don't think society is going to allow a person to punch out an officer and the officer will just tell the person that they can't smoke for 24 hours!!!!!!!! The whole system is messed up. I know that some of these people are truly sick and they need help, but then there are the personality disorders...there isn't any medications that are going to help them. These individuals know what they are doing and can get away with anything because they are mentally ill and no one can touch them. I will tell you that in the Department of Mental Health, the client has more rights than any staff member working in that department. They actually listen to a mentally ill person over a staff member! Ok let me get off my soap box here. I am sorry but when I left my old job with the State, I left several of my friends and I worry about their safety everyday. There is absolutely no reason why staff should have to suffer being beaten on almost everyday just because these clients are mentally ill. Our State Hospital is trying to do away with restraints believe it or not. Something that will most definetly get someone killed. But they feel that restraints and seclusion is abuse to the clients. I have no idea what they plan on doing to control these people but I would never work in that place again for safety reasons. I left with 3 bulging discs in my back, 8 hernia repairs (from lifting and fighting so much in 7 years), arthritic knees that won't allow me to bend anymore, migraine headaches that got worse from being punched in the head numerous times and a huge scar on my leg from a human bite. A wound that will never go away. Restraints and seclusion are so necessary. There has to be consequences for bad behaviors. But this is just my opinion on the subject. I could write for hours on the stuff that went on in that horrible place I worked at, but I won't do that to you. Have a great weekend........
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Control and Restraint Techniques
Forensic APRN
If you show that you are fearful you show that you are not in charge. You are in charge at all times. It is most important to practice respectful, empathetic communication. I like the Nursing Theory of Peplau and use her methods most often. I find that information about the admitting patient comes to our facility, the staff read about the behavior of the patient before he comes in and makes assumptions about how he is going to act when he walks through the door. This is often a mistake. It is most important to be aware of past behaviors but not let it color your behaviors toward the patient when he comes in. Treat all patients when they come in like a stranger to you and accord the respect you would to him that you would accord to any stranger. Respect and Dignity. This works for our staff very well and we don't have very much acting out because of it. Safety is the first concern for all.
