Have you been assaulted by a patient?

Nurses Relations

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Specializes in ICU.

I think I read an article here somewhere that stated nurses are assaulted more than any other profession.

In my short 2 years as an RN, I've been assaulted (or seen other RN's assaulted) by patients MORE times than I can count (and I don't work in Psych)! I don't blame the patients who attacked me because their illnesses caused major changes in mental status and they didn't know what they were doing.

I DO, however, blame the RN's, Nursing assistants or MD's who DON'T know how to interact with these people and only make things WORSE! Do NOT snicker or giggle at a patient no matter how ridiculous their behavior might be....it doesn't help! And if a fellow nurse says "I need help in here" or "call security", please take it seriously!!!

Just curious how often this happens to others.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Everyday. All day. Anesthesized, combative, and HUGE.

Such is the life of the RR nurse....

P.S. Anyone awake and alert, intact and bigger than me who dares to try to do anything will suffer severe, legal repercussions....and I usually let them know I have attorneys in my family so MY fees will be FREE......

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.

I've been a few times. I had a patient bite me, but it didn't break skin thank god. I've been pinched, kicked. I had an alzheimers guy smack me across the face. But he really didn't know what he was doing, and felt so bad immediately. He started kissing my hand, lol. He was one I had cared for multiple times, and was normally a sweetie.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

It was my first job. I worked in a LTC facility. There was an angry old man who would start yelling and throwing things if his call light was not answered immediately. Just as I entered the doorway, he threw a full mustard bottle that hit me right in the chest. I was enraged. I'm not sure what my face looked like, but it must have been scary, because the mean old man started apologizing instantly. I turned and walked away, because every instinct I had was screaming at me to throw that bottle right back.

That is the only time an alert and oriented pt has ever hit me.

The confused ones don't count. At least not to me. It kinda goes with the job.

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Bitten, scratched, and punched by those who were not alert and oriented. Assaulted by friend of patient.

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Specializes in ICU.
Bitten, scratched, and punched by those who were not alert and oriented. Assaulted by friend of patient.

"Friend of a patient"???? Mind if I ask what the circumstances were?? I guess anything is possible.

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Home health. Visiting the patient (frequent visitor). He was drunk and thought it was ok to go beyond the verbal sexual harassment to the physical. There was another situation that I don't go into often, much more serious, and much more frightening, although losing my job because a drunk assaulted me was no picnic.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Several times in the ER. Cops and DA wont do anything about it if there are no serious injuries or the patient is drunk or on some other drug. A friend was assaulted by a sober visitor. DA prosected this one. The judge reamed the DA and sentenced the guy to 3 times what the DA had asked for. Sometimes the good guys win, I guess.

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A nurse pushed me into a cart and knocked me down. I cut my hand and all she said was to better prepare myself before I come back to HER ed.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Many times but the pts were not O&AX3. I have learned to keep a close eye on my pts during the assessments. I have also begun talking with the confused pts for a few minutes before I approach them.

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Specializes in ICU.
Home health. Visiting the patient (frequent visitor). He was drunk and thought it was ok to go beyond the verbal sexual harassment to the physical. There was another situation that I don't go into often, much more serious, and much more frightening, although losing my job because a drunk assaulted me was no picnic.

Unbelievable! One of the reasons I would NEVER want to do home health!

I had to care for a serial rapist last year and was infuriated that there was a female nursing assistant as a 1:1 observer @ the bedside because he had attempted suicide a couple of days before admission to the ICU (he raped again & then went home & overdosed to escape jail time). He was in restraints, but there were NO police or even security @ the bedside...just female nursing assistants....I'm sure he LOVED that!!! As soon as he was discharged, the police were there to arrest him, but they certainly weren't there @ the bedside to protect the staff caring for this man!

It's disgusting that there is so little concern for nurses' safety!

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Having been in this situation, I have to agree that it is deplorable how the employers deal or refuse to deal with the problem.

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