Is this really the norm?

[WittySarcasm]

Alright I'm gonna keep this as anonymous as I can. I just am wondering if this is really the norm or should I be as upset as I feel...

But lately we've had residents on our unit that have become worse. Verbal abuse is common on our unit, however it is starting to get to all of us. But with it being 5 days a week, 8 hours a day it would get to anyone. And I mean we get the f*** you, motherf***ing b*****, a**h*** and so many other curses. And it's not just one, it's several people. I chart everytime someone on my unit is cussed out and report it. However nothing is ever done.

Some of our residents are physical (not super often though, thank god), or if not they are threatening and all I hear is "What did you do to cause the situation?" When it's explained that we haven't done anything it's like they just go- oh ok and that's it.

But I know where I work it's more of a 'last resort' place. But what can we...heck I do to keep the morale up? Because we all are feeling the strain now...

[Bbo.W]

Q

@ kalevra- Yeah these are patients that are on our unit.

To everyone else thank you. I was just half wondering if this was some crazy norm that I had missed in nursing homes. Especially since everyone above me seems so unworried about any of it.

And no none of these are new behaviours, they either have been going on for months now or the patient has a history of it.

Yeah, I work in LTC on a locked ward, and I have an opinion....

After being punched in the face, kicked, spit on, cussed out, I think there are meds for that....If a "resident" has a right to be safe, than as a caregiver I have a right to be safe too! Bring on the Haldol IM. I am done with being abused!

[terry8025]

Thanks for your replies, and I don't take any as attacks.

We've tried psych evals, asked behavioural health and doctors for them- stating the reasons (one of the reasons we chart all problems we have so well- so they can read exactly what happens)- but they keep putting it on the back burner. Like the either say "I never heard about it," when told face to face 3 times. Or "Well what are you doing wrong to the resident?" I'm sorry but when I try to tell a resident that is leaving meat and milk for a puppy that doesn't exist and she turns and raises a fist at me, I really can't tell you what I did wrong besides tell her the puppy isn't there.

I've tried every tip they use on the redirecting, and everyone ends up with a fist being raised at me. Times like that, or when we hear "You're dead! You will die soon when I get a hold of you." Or "Wait until you are in the parking lot alone, that's when I'll be laughing at you!"

But we've gotten used to it and just see it as being a normal part of where we work.

That is very interesting. There is a significant difference between a precise death threat such as this and the "normal" cursing we all experience from time to time. Is the Resident physically able to attack you in the parking lot? Is this a secure unit? You must first consider this. If the unit is not secure and the Resident is able to carry out the threat then your first concer should be safety and this should be addressed by management.

After security is ensured I would then reconsider the psychiatric diagnoses. It is not rational to make such a precise threat so it is possible they have something else going on there. Good luck and keep trying but be safe.