Nurses, have you been been spit on, pushed, scratched and verbally or assaulted?

[Brian]

Unfortunately, it is quite common in the nursing profession to have had been assaulted one way or another by a patient at some point in your career.

For some reason, it is tolerated in the nursing profession and is just accepted as "part of the job"? Police do not tolerate this type of abuse, nor do most professions, why is it tolerated in the nursing profession?

Do to recent stories of fatal violence in hospitals, I wanted to poll all of you AN'ers and see what kind of percentage of nurses from all specialties have had to deal with violence in some fashion.

I think we all would like to see policies change to have a safer work environments, please share this poll with your nursing friends, Facebook etc.... Thanks

Related News:

• Violence in hospitals common for staff-CNN - Nursing for Nurses
  
• Visitor Shoots Doctor at Johns Hopkins
  
• Attacking a Doctor Makes News; Attacking a Nurse is Business As Usual - Nursing for Nurses
  

Please take a second and answer our poll, then if you wish, please share your stories of your experiences.

[mvg rn]

Well working the front desk, I have been called a #itch among other things for simply enforcing our visitation policy in the NICU and had to call the hospital police to get her to leave.

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

I work on psych. Ive been hit, punched, kicked, spit on, grabbed, propositioned, screamed at, called vile name. Had my wrist sprained once, and it was my fault for blocking instead of backing up or ducking ( couldnt back up, no where to go, ducking would have been a broken nose. And yes I know not to get where I cant back up/pivot, but the pt was standing on a gerichair so I figured better my wrist then his head). Most of the vebal issues are from Adult Psych, while the physical ones happened on geriatric psych

[bagladyrn, RN]

Have experienced all of the above happen at various times. It wasn't surprising or unexpected when I worked in psych, but I have also been on the receiving end of all of this (and more) while working in L&D!

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

As a student I have been punched, kicked and spit at, not on, they had terrible aim and luckily on anticholinergics.

[badphish]

choked, kicked, punched, bit, scratched and spit on

[SmilingBluEyes]

Does abuse., outright horrible verbal and emotional/mental abuse by a coworker count? If so, I got a story to tell you! It's been horrible.

[Mike A. Fungin RN]

I work in a neuroscience / trauma ICU... so a little combativeness is par for the course. That said, there's a difference between being on the receiving end of abuse from someone with a brain injury, dementia, delerium, or otherwise altered mentation, and from someone who's just an a**hole. I consider the source.

[wondern, ASN]

Does abuse., outright horrible verbal and emotional/mental abuse by a coworker count? If so, I got a story to tell you! It's been horrible.

I was wondern the same thing. I got more abuse from coworkers and managers than from any patients in my 20 yr nursing career at my magnet workplace. Guess I need to get back to the 'bully' or 'verbal and written warnings, termination' threads for some PTSD therapy. :redbeathe

[ShayRN]

Verbal assaults only so far.. "I want to punch you in your FAT nose!" (The one part on my body I believe is still quite pert!) and "I will cut your T*ts off!" (Not quite as pert, but precious!)

I almost spit my coffee out! That is the funniest darn thing I have read in along time, thank you, LMAO!

[Scarlette Wings]

does abuse., outright horrible verbal and emotional/mental abuse by a coworker count? if so, i got a story to tell you! it's been horrible.

oh enquiring minds so do want to know. tell tell. please tell. i love a good comparison!

[Poi Dog]

I have been hit, kicked, and threatened by residents. While neither was pleasant, the sexual and verbal abuse from my now ex-workers was worse. Management was notified about the sexual harassment but they did nada. There excuse was, "Oh he is a hard worker and we would hate to lose him." :icon_roll:icon_roll:icon_roll

[Rayanne313]

I have been hit scratched had things thrown at me. One particular lady pinched my boob so hard it drew blood.. no joke then laughed about it!!!!! I ve had urinal full of urine threw at me luckily i caught it mid air!!! ugh the joy of nursing... but i so dearly love them all regaurdless!!