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New nurse here...slapped today by patient.



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No. 20
from Altra
Old Feb 21, 2008, 09:22 AM

Default Re: New nurse here...slapped today by patient.
Un-freakin-believable.

OP, please, please file an incident report if you haven't already. Include details about the presence of sharps, if any (you had just started an IV), that she was A&O, who else was present during this incident, etc.

And please update us on what else happened.
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No. 21
from Altra
Old Feb 21, 2008, 09:25 AM

Default Re: New nurse here...slapped today by patient.
Originally Posted by Bonny619 View Post
So, my question is this....at what point does a nurse actually look at a situation as being assaulted. If this lady slapped me across the face in the middle of the grocery store, I would have called the police.

What is that fine line? What if she bruised my face? Is that different?

Any advice is appreciated.
There is no fine line here. The legal definition of assault and/or battery does not require bruising or injury.
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No. 22
from GingerSue
Old Feb 21, 2008, 10:37 AM

Default Re: New nurse here...slapped today by patient.
completely inappropriate and unacceptable for her to slap you
(it is battery)
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No. 23
Old Feb 21, 2008, 11:40 AM

Default Re: New nurse here...slapped today by patient.
I would consider it assault and proceed accordingly. EVERYONE deserves to work in a safe environment.
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No. 24
from RNperdiem
Old Feb 21, 2008, 12:10 PM

Default Re: New nurse here...slapped today by patient.
But what would happen if you called the police, I wonder? Would hospital security be a good starting point?
Strange situation with the lady being alert and oriented.
When I worked with older people with dementia, I would be ready to duck out of the way; these folks are suprizingly strong. They probably thought they were defending themselves when having a foley catheter or NG tube placed.
Did you demand an apology?
Make it clear you were offended?
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No. 25
from TRAMA1RN
Old Feb 21, 2008, 12:36 PM

Default Re: New nurse here...slapped today by patient.
file charges immediately, patients think they can do whatever they want to nurses, today. Press-Ganey has been the worst thing for all nursing staff. I bet your employer will try to talk you out of pressing charges.

I am very sorry for you.
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No. 26
from vivibonita
Old Feb 21, 2008, 12:52 PM

Default Re: New nurse here...slapped today by patient.
I'm sorry for what happened to you, however before filing a report IL'll make sure all my bases were covered. Did you, at the beggining of your shift, reported or charted that she was A&O x 3? What do the other people that were in the room with you think about the situation? Are they willing to back you up? Remember that you are filing charges against a 77 year old lady, who are usually considered frail and in most cases the victims.

I am also curious as to what did you do when you walked out of the room... please keep us informed of this situation.

Good luck

Vivi.
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No. 27
from banditrn
Old Feb 21, 2008, 01:19 PM

Default Re: New nurse here...slapped today by patient.
Originally Posted by elizabells View Post
I am sorry to say you will have to look out for yourself here. I was hit by a patient during a bed bath when I was in nursing school, and when I told my instructor I was uncomfortable going back in this man's room, she proceeded to assign me to him every day for the rest of my rotation to teach me a lesson. She also told me, in a later rotation, in front of other students, that she didn't understand why I "had such a problem with his personality." I didn't have a problem with his personality, I had a problem with getting hit! Moral of the story is that, as much as it sucks, you are probably the only one who will stand up for you. If she was A&Ox3, I'd do whatever you can to at least avoid taking care of her again, even if you don't press charges.

This is why I work with babies.
Yeah, but them darn babies can PEE on ya!
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No. 28
from miko014
Old Feb 21, 2008, 01:56 PM

Default Re: New nurse here...slapped today by patient.
Originally Posted by evilnightwitch View Post
file charges immediately, patients think they can do whatever they want to nurses, today. Press-Ganey has been the worst thing for all nursing staff. I bet your employer will try to talk you out of pressing charges.

I am very sorry for you.

Amen!!!!!! Press-Ganey is the devil!!! That's probably why the OP is hesitant about what to do. Health care now has a customer service focus, instead of a patient care focus, and because of that, nurses feel like we can't defend ourselves. I mean, you can't snap back at that disrespectful family, because they might sue you, right? So how do you press charges against an old lady who hit you? It's one thing if the patient is NOT A&O, but this one was, and it's not okay for her (or anyone else) to hit anyone. I am so tired of being abused (mostly verbally, thank goodness) by patients and families who think I am there to do their bidding. OP, please don't let this go!!!
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No. 29
from miko014
Old Feb 21, 2008, 01:58 PM

Default Re: New nurse here...slapped today by patient.
Originally Posted by banditrn View Post
Yeah, but them darn babies can PEE on ya!
So can some of those darn old people, lol!!!
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