Violent Sex Offender on our unit (long)...

[SheriLynnRN]

I work on a surgical unit, and we currently have a pt who is a registered "level 3" sex offender, designated as a "sexually violent predator." He was released from prison about a year ago after serving three years for the rape of a teenaged girl. According to the sex offender registry web site he was determined to be very likely to reoffend.

I expect that he will be a pt on our unit for at least another week or two, he's already been there 2 wks or so. He's got GI issues, TPN, that sort of thing.

Recently, his parole officer had to be called to come to the unit and confiscate a disposable camera that he was using to take pictures of staff, specifically the young female nurses and CNAs. At first he was asking permission, saying that he really appreciated the care he was getting, wanted to remember us, etc. Then he started snapping pics without warning. Before this incident, his history hadn't been communicated to everyone, so a lot of the staff had no reason to be suspicious of him.

The past few days, it has really been creeping me out to be on the unit. He is taking his doctor's order to ambulate a little overboard in my opinion. He walks the loop around our unit for an hour every shift. I'm not exaggerating, he has stated that he is timing himself for an hour. While he is walking, it seems to me that he is intently watching everything. A few days ago, we had a young female pt, and he kept stopping at her room to talk. Her nurse made a point to go in the room and interrupt each time, but we couldn't warn her about him.

Our nurse manager has assigned male nurses and CNA's to him as much as possible, and female staff are not supposed to enter his room alone, always in pairs and keep the door open if possible, just shut the curtain. We were also given permission to remove our badges before going in, because they have our last names on them.

Personally, I would feel safer if a security officer were posted outside his door. This guy is physically ill, but he is not incompacitated. He certainly has the ability to hurt someone if he wants to.

I feel like I am constantly looking over my shoulder, especially later in the evenings when it is quieter and we dim the hall lights.

Has anyone else had this experience? How did your unit handle it?

[roosevelt127]

talk to the NM or security, or someone. tell them the situation, just let somebody know what is going on. dont keep quiet. wouldn't that be horrible if something were to happen and you look back and did't say anything. and remeber your first instinct serves you well, don't ignore it, it is there for a reason. and i would be horrified to be that patient that that man is talking to. she probly has no idea and thinks that she is perfectly safe in the hospital, and lets keep it that way!

I couldn't agree more - isn't it always the way that we ignore the signs (um..HELLO, this guy has entered a young femals patient's room unnecessarily, and REPEATEDLY!) and resources (this man is listed on the database as highly likely to be a repeat offender!!) available to us and choose not to deal with the situation until it's too late. Disgusting.

IMHO, sex offenders should lose their right to personal privacy specific to the matter at hand. Meaning obviously nobody needs to know anything about his medical condition, reason for being in the hospital, etc., but to maintain that a teenage girl whose room he has entered multiple times doesn't have the right to know what she's up against is insane. what if that girl was YOUR teenage daughter? What if that girl was YOU.

The guy's neighbors have the right to know he's a known sex offender don't they? Well, this teenager is effectively his 'neighbor' in the hospital, is she not? I think you see where I'm going... either she (and other female patients on the unit) deserves to know so she can protect herself (i.e. she needs to realize it's not a good idea to talk about personal matters or even give her name to this guy b/c god knows what he might decide to do after he LEAVES the unit/hospital), or this guy needs an officer to monitor his behavior.

Try the 'A Time to Kill' approach - get the security people, your NM, social work, whoever you need, around a table. Ask them if they have teenagers at home. Ask if they're daughters. They'll get the point. If it doesn't stir them into action by making them realize they might feel different about the situation if the safety of their own kids was at stake, they're beyond help and the situation will probably remain unresolved. Sad but true.

[SheriLynnRN]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm glad you all see this in the same light that I do. Some of my coworkers don't, they just shrug and say "Just treat him like everyone else." I am back to work tomorrow and plan on speaking to my NM. I will update this thread if things change. Thanks again for the suggestions.

[medsurgnurse, RN]

I may not attack anybody while in the hospital but it sounds he's checking everybody out. He probably learning names, schedules etc. It's time for a visit from his friendly parole officer.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

How disturbing. Hospital patients are very vulnerable for several reasons. Having the nursing staff watch him is not a viable answer. They are called into rooms and cannot keep a reliable eye on him at all times. The other patients have more of a right to be safe than he has a right to privacy. He has violated the mores of society and that fact is that sexual offenders re-offend. Yes, he is free, but he did the unthinable and there is still a price to pay. He is obviously casing the unit on his walks. As soon as there is a code or some distraction he will have a free shot and know exactly where to go. Maybe not, but who can take the chance. The hospital should be happy to assign some to him at all times. It is the right thing to do. If they don't care about staff and patient safety then they should care about the potential for a lawsuit if he sneaks into room 312 and assualts the little old lady with dementia. They knew about his past and the danger and if that happened there would be NO defense they could mount.

[gstrahan]

Call his parole officer every day, twice a day. Get your co-workers to call also. Tell him every thing the rapist does that could possibly be inappropriate. Don't be afraid of a little hyperbole. If you don't get the parole officer to make a move based on clearly preditory behavior, call the parole officer's supervisor. Don't let it go. If "we the public" are lucky, maybe his parole will be violated and he will go back to jail. Three years is not enough for rape.

""Check on"" the rapist's medical condition so much that he almost thinks he's being harrassed. Don't even let him breath without being observed. Never look intimidated by him. It makes you look weak, he would like that. It makes him think you would be easy prey. Find a way to surreptitiously warn all the females in the area that he is there. Just make sure they can't prove it was you who spread the word if you are in danger of losing your job for telling. I think the sex offender registry is a matter of public record and absolutely no violation of HIPPA for you to discuss it. The only ethical violation would be if he did not receive the proper medical treatment because of it.

[indigo girl]

This has to go to the legal dept of the hospital administration and the hospital psych dept for an evaluation. Is his private MD not aware ? Is this all documented.

This guy is acting out all over the place and it seems like the uppers are not recognizing this. I never realized how deviously cunning persons could be until I did some prison work in a federal medical clinic.

Please do not underevaluate this situation do not allow your managment to minimize this.

I would never allow 1/1 by a nurse or cna -- suggest to have the hospital pay for an off duty police officer to sit with him 24/7. You sure can have a paid off duty police officer sit in a hall outside the door of a patient even if he is not under arrest.

It is for his safety so that he does not act out as well as for the staff -- it is called security and the facility can decide if on occasions they want more trained persons instead of usual security.

This does not preclude an anonymous call to his parole office should you not feel protected enough -- level three sex offender is also a sociopath or with similar personality features.

Another example of nurses not being protected in thier own work place !!! GRRRRRRRRRRR.

What other professions or administration would put up with this with no other interventions ?

Do what you have to do to take care of yourself and remember he is not on parole for missing Sunday school.

Marc

Terrific advice, Marc. I only hope it gets followed.

[kukukajoo, LPN]

Having security present on the unit would be a good safe measure for all involved. At the very least, security should have majorly increased rounds on the floor. It does not have to be right at his door.

I would contact his Parole Officer and see what his limitations are (Such as no contact with kids, women, etc.) as he may be breaking parole conditions. Also sometimes parole officers will be very candid or tell you what to watch for or say things such as if you see him doing this, call me...

Someone should be developing a relationship with his PO for sure.

Also, if he has picked up that anyone is freaked out, he could be playing on your fears just to screw with you. Remember, he is predator and to watch you squirm would be delightful to him in such a boring setting- that is how he gets his jollies and it becomes a control game. See, if he can get a reaction, then he is controlling you in his eyes.

[Jo Dirt]

He stops at the nurse's station during his walks, and cracks stupid jokes with a weird grin on his face.

What about all the unsuspecting people who are sharing a hospital floor with him? I know, I know, right to privacy, etc.

In most places I know of, people have the right to know if their neighbors are sex offenders. I don't know why the hospital neighbors should be kept from this information.

Too bad they can't fix him so he never cares about sex again.

And when he cracks the stupid jokes I wouldn't even humor him by smirking. I would give him a deadpan glare. I wouldn't play tinky winky with this criminal. I don't care if he has supposedly "done his time." Too bad his victim(s) pain couldn't have lasted just three years. Too bad their "time" hasn't been done, and I can bet you a million dollars it hasn't been. Having been sexually assaulted as a young girl by my sister's boyfriend, and also by some boys at my elementary school I can tell you the scars last a lifetime and the negative way your life is affected cannot be put into words. Sex offenders are of one of the most deviant personalities and virtually nothing changes them. It would be an honor for me to do the snipping, or banding, or whatever would be the most traumatic to this filthy worm scum sucking bottom dweller.

[ms mimi]

Too bad his victim(s) pain couldn't have lasted just three years. Too bad their "time" hasn't been done, and I can bet you a million dollars it hasn't been.

i have to agree with this. it just seems like these people don't ever quit, and because they serve so little time (if any at all) they just go back to doing it again and again. i dont know what it will take to put these people away for good or make a punishment that will fit the crime. the pain that these crimes illicit upon their victims can literally ruin lives. i wonder when it will all stop.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Couldn't this guy be violating the conditions of his parole every time he stops by the young female pt's room and talks to her? Have these "visits" been documented by staff?

I would ask the PO about this.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Dang.... I'd be every bit as concerned about the STAFF here as for the patients.. if not MORE so. These creeps LOVE young nurses.. fantasize about them.. no thanx to all the stupid TV portrayals.

I'd be watching for him AFTER d/c for quite some time... he has his chosen prey burned in his sick mind already. What's to stop him from lurking around in the parking lots at night, or roaming the halls pretending he's a visitor after d/c ? THIS is what the PO and the hospital security need to be on the lookout for for quite some time. What can he see out of his hospital room window? Any parking lots where nurses go after leaving their shift? Can he see where nurses go when they leave? Is he keeping track of who works what shift? Does he have access to any staff signatures on charts or other forms perhaps?

This is not good for anyone there. I'd be more concerned about having security AFTER d/c. (Although I agree his interactions with patients and staff should be closely monitored while there as well.)

He's a VIOLENT offender afterall. That speaks volumes about his willingness and his NEED to victimize. This is not about sex.. it's about violence and instilling fear and wanting to control.. and force his will and way on others.

Makes my skin crawl.

[birthmamaew]

I am wondering if the visit to the young girl down the hall might not be a violation of his parole. This is obviously speculation, but it seems like the little chats he insists on having might be enough to at least have a talk with his PO about. Your NM needs to get involved, and I agree with indigo girl completley: Get psych involved somehow and take care of yourselves and each other. I realize he has served his time, but this type of criminal has a VERY high rate of recitivism. Listen to your gut.