Nurse abuse: managment just doesn't get it!!

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

I just read the article about the ER MD that was attacked by a patient. I am sorry to say it did not surprise me. Over the last few years hospitals have emphasized the patient as a customer, including the sickening mantra...the customer is always right. I have seen many nurses afraid to set limits with abusive patients for fear of retribution. Many nurses that have set limits and do expect civil and appropriate behavior from patients and families and patient's visitors have been admonished by their supervisors at the slightest often bogus complaint of the patient and their associates. It frankly sickens me to see my co-workers being treated this way. Are others seeing this trend....cuz I think we should not have to take this crap anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rngolfer53]

This is hardly unique to hospitals and health care. As a society, we make excuses, endless excuses, for what is simply a lack of self-control on the part of many people.

[ANnot4me]

I think that management does get it, but they don't care. Money comes first and in that lies the problem. The world is in the state it is right now because big money and big business take precedence over people.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I disagree. There is no money to made when employees are unhappy or visitors observe violence in the hospital or people are sued over events. If we could predict when and where the violence would occur then we could control it better. Meanwhile, nurses should INSIST on a safe work environment. Vote with your feet. If they refuse, go elsewhere.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Patients are considered the ultimate money-makers of the hospital because the facility would cease to exist without the revenues they generate. Therefore, managers and hospital administrators feel the need to cater to the patient's every whim and coddle to them in a butt-kissing manner.

Nurses are considered a revenue loss on the hospital's balance sheet because of the wages, salaries, and benefits that must be paid in exchange for the services we render. Our services are rolled into the room rate along with the bedpan, hand soap, and bedtime snacks. Therefore, managers and hospital administrators do not really feel the need to respect us.

However, hospital administrators often fail to realize that hospitals would absolutely crumble to the ground without the presence of nurses, as we are the backbones of healthcare.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Well said Commuter I couldn't have put it better myself. And then add on a right to work state and you can treat the staff even worse and get away with it

[Southern Fried RN]

I was assaulted by a patient at work and found my management unsupportive. The patient was 1 hr post CEA and decided she was wanted to pull her art line, foley, IV, etc and walk out of the RR naked. We talked her down for about 30 minutes. She seemed calmer and then halued off and hit me in the face as we were getting her cleaned up.

At first the management just blew it off as "she just came out of anesthesia" and did not bother to have another RN assume her care. I told them I refused to care for her any further and it took about another hour for another RN to actually relieve me.

Based on things the patient said and did before the assault, I KNEW she did it purposefully. I felt like the patient should have charges pressed and an incident report filed. My manager basically didn't think it was a big deal and said "go to employee health."

3 hours after the incident, having the ER police officer come to the unit and take my statement, then administration getting involved I was finally allowed to take the rest of the day off. I got the impression they really didn't care about changing the way the hospital deals with violent patients, they just wanted to make sure I didn't run to an attorney and sue them for "unsafe work conditions."

The icing on the cake is that the next day I found out the patient has a history of assaulting health care workers.

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

I know of someone who lost their job because they filed a complaint of sexual assault against a patient. Patient A&O x 3, all I know is she's also making a case against the facility.

In the meantime I'm guessing she has no job and a ruined reputation. This whole issue is disgusting.

[miko014]

Patients are considered the ultimate money-makers of the hospital because the facility would cease to exist without the revenues they generate. Therefore, managers and hospital administrators feel the need to cater to the patient's every whim and coddle to them in a butt-kissing manner.

Isn't it funny how that has flipped? It used to be that they needed us, and they showed a bit of respect. Now they are looking at it the other way - we need them. And we will do whatever it takes to get them to come to us rather than someone else. I hate that healthcare has become a moneymaking venture.

However, hospital administrators often fail to realize that hospitals would absolutely crumble to the ground without the presence of nurses, as we are the backbones of healthcare.

I think they know it, they are just secure in the fact that we are not going to do anything about it. I have had my share of threats, but have not actually been assaulted by an A&O pt. I can handle it when they don't know what they're doing. I can tell you though, if it happens, I will get the results I want, or else I will get a lawyer. But then, I'm only one person. I doubt it would make much difference. I fully support prosecution for anyone who harms anyone else - healthcare related or otherwise.

[ShayRN]

The icing on the cake is that the next day I found out the patient has a history of assaulting health care workers.

Seems to me this stuff should be reported to each nurse that is taking the patient. Sicking. The only way this is going to change is if a consistant law is put into place to protect us OR a huge lawsuit against a facility for not protecting it's staff is made very public

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

I disagree. There is no money to made when employees are unhappy or visitors observe violence in the hospital or people are sued over events. If we could predict when and where the violence would occur then we could control it better. Meanwhile, nurses should INSIST on a safe work environment. Vote with your feet. If they refuse, go elsewhere.

The thing is, I remember working in a really awful long term care where they only had about half regular staff, the rest were agency. Five years later the place is still like that. They didn't care when I put in my two weeks and actually told me I could leave that day if it suited. It would have, other than I don't think I'd have been able to use them as a reference. There is talk all the time about nurse retention but that's all it is. Talk.

[snuggles49]

Wow. I sense a lot of negativity in these posts toward your hospital administrators. First of all all kinds of people come into the ED with all kinds of issues. Was the patient drug seeking, was the patient coming down from drugs, was the patient having psyc issues. Working in the ED can be dangerous due to these issues and a mulitude of others. You can not always control what will happen. In our facility we have procedures to help with these kinds of situtations such as calling the police, calling the team (we call it a code brown - show of force or code black-show of weapons ) you try to defuse the situation. Never are staff expected to put themselves in danger because the "patient is always right" . When you say you shouldn't have to "take this crap anymore " what is your solution ?