Choked by a patient. How do you deal with this trauma?

Nurses Safety

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  • Specializes in Cardiac, Neuro, Progressive Care.

You are reading page 4 of Choked by a patient. How do you deal with this trauma?

Just this past week I had a very close call and thankfully wasn't hurt but I fell apart and couldn't finish my shift and thankfully had the next day off. But there was another RN that worked on my unit that was assaulted in Sept last year and was hurt badly. She was off for quite some time then came back and couldn't deal with patient contact and had to go to nights. (We work in a state psych hospital with lockdown at night) She still couldn't deal. I don't believe she got any therapy and ultimately quit without notice a few weeks ago. This was her third attack since working there. Although I didn't get attacked by my patient the other night I have been a victim of being choked before and without therapy it's difficult to get past. That was 5 years ago and I still can't handle something around my neck but the acute trauma of it still took a long time to heal. Please speak with someone and if you can talk him into it have your husband speak with someone also. It's next to impossible to fix yourself if you're trying to hurry up and do it because someone you love doesn't think you should still be upset by it.

Im so sorry this happened to you. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

kungpoopanda

215 Posts

I'm very sorry this happened to you and I'm very angry tha you are not getting the support you need. Please go to your GP and get her to write you off work for Worker's Comp. Then get yourself some counselling and when you feel able, approach your workplace about a gradual return to work. Give yourself plenty of time.

I have been assaulted at work and sustained permanaent injuries, one of which required surgery. I still suffer workplace anxiety, even though I now do not work directly with patients. That's all I'll say, because this is about you not me, but I wanted you to know that I understand. I wish you a full recovery.

kungpoopanda

215 Posts

Oh, and lawyer up. Get legal advice about any claims you might need to make in the future, as well as pressing charges against the perpetrator.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B

9 Articles; 4,800 Posts

That's a valid question. All of you have given such great input. I need to collate it in my email to my Director. This incident brought up so many issues like nurses' rights, workplace safety, patients' rights, self defense, protocols for violence in the workplace, legal boundaries, etc. It's a lot to take in and iron out.

And please remember in all of this to look at your rights as an employee. If you can file a workman's comp, do it. If you have short term disability, take it. Have conversation with the workman's comp provider about what they are going to provide you. Take care of you.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I have a good friend that was assaulted at work. A patient grabbed her crotch and ripped her pants and underwear. The hospital was NOT supportive.

Check out this thread....Nurse pressing charges - pg.3 | allnurses

kungpoopanda

215 Posts

I have a good friend that was assaulted at work. A patient grabbed her crotch and ripped her pants and underwear. The hospital was NOT supportive.

Check out this thread....Nurse pressing charges - pg.3 | allnurses

Yep, I found that the lack of support, the lack of a "sorry this happened to you" and that my workplace tried to make out that it was somehow my fault (even though this patient had assaulted other nurses before and after he attacked me) were possibly more traumatic than the assault and recovery from the injuries.

MedChica

562 Posts

Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

Have I been assaulted?

It's been attempted. Only one resident has come after me. Sprinted. I restrained and held her until others came. Most of the time, I'm trying to help another staff member. I deflect blows well. I usually hurt myself restraining, the result of a bad grip. I've sprained my wrist that way.

If I'd let him go, he would've attacked me. I restrained him and screamed for more assistance.

I'm not a large woman. I'm 5'2.

Other than that? I do a little boxing and also Krav Maga for exercise. I'm prior service military. I'm not the baddest person out there but I know how to defend myself. I'm deceptively strong. LOL

I've got some weird reflexes. So, I try to not place myself in positions where knee-jerk reactions hurt the pt.

Even in a regular facility, my back is always to the wall. When I'm with larger males, I'm extra watchful. I maintain a safe distance.

One of our med aides jacked a resident (30 something male) up against the wall because he snuck up behind her and tried to tickle her or pick her up? I don't know. I just heard a squeal, 'Oof!' and a thud. She was instantly apologetic. "I didn't know. I didn't mean to --!" Hey, no explanation necessary.

People are always trying to beat the hell out of and do weird things to female healthcare workers.

'I must not hurt my pt' does not apply when the pt is bigger than me, has the strength to finish me and is blocking the exit.

I'm prepared to lose my license over it. Just being honest. In real life, most nurses that I've worked with say the same 'off the record'.

I understand why you thought like this, though. I really do. Defending yourself seems...discouraged in this profession. Counseling will help. Many assault victims behave in this fashion. Even those who've been in car accidents have fear when it comes to driving.

MedChica

562 Posts

Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.
I have a good friend that was assaulted at work. A patient grabbed her crotch and ripped her pants and underwear. The hospital was NOT supportive.

Check out this thread....Nurse pressing charges - pg.3 | allnurses

I'd press charges in a heartbeat.

I read the post about the female pt leaping the nurse's station to fight the nurse's station.

An ex coworker was repeatedly hit in the head by a resident who kept coming into the nurse's station and angry because none would make 1100 calls a day. Honestly, I couldn't believe that she let it happen. She allegedly sat there in her chair and let the resident hit her. That's just ridiculous.

When that pt would act out with my shift, we would just 'grip her up' (restrain crisscrossed arms firmly to side) and march her out of there.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B

9 Articles; 4,800 Posts

I'd press charges in a heartbeat.

I read the post about the female pt leaping the nurse's station to fight the nurse's station.

An ex coworker was repeatedly hit in the head by a resident who kept coming into the nurse's station and angry because none would make 1100 calls a day. Honestly, I couldn't believe that she let it happen. She allegedly sat there in her chair and let the resident hit her. That's just ridiculous.

When that pt would act out with my shift, we would just 'grip her up' (restrain crisscrossed arms firmly to side) and march her out of there.

With the "sitting there letting someone hit her" aside, most facilities do not allow restraint of a patient without an order to do so, with the MD present. To "grip up" any patient would be considered battery of such patient. And could cost a job.

For most facilities, and policies differ widely, security is called--and with lack of security personnell, the police are called. They follow a different process than a nurse.

For a nurse that is accused of battery, this is a potential loss of license. And for most, grabbing patients and marching them out of the area is out of the question.

OCNRN63, RN

5,978 Posts

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I have a good friend that was assaulted at work. A patient grabbed her crotch and ripped her pants and underwear. The hospital was NOT supportive.

Check out this thread....Nurse pressing charges - pg.3 | allnurses

I had a similar situation happen to me when I was working home hospice. The creep...one minute he was showing me a display of all the medals he was awarded in WWII, the next he had his hand on my crotch. When I told my manager, she laughed it off. I told her I refused to go back to his home, and her only concern was who would cover his visits.

It's stunning how many people have responded with stories of their own assaults. How sad; people may say they respect nurses, but this thread speaks otherwise.

OP, I am so sorry for what you are going through. You definitely need time away and counseling. Your employer owes you this. (((222mom222)))

FineAgain

372 Posts

Specializes in ED; Med Surg.
That said, there's a big, big difference between a LOL with dementia who swats at staff, and someone who brutally attacks staff. We've probably all been swatted at by someone w/ dementia. Things like the OP's attack, or that story in the Nursing News forum about the nurse who suffered head trauma from the pt stomping on it...that is criminal.

Oh I totally agree. And OP I hope you do not think I was making light of your situation, I am aghast that this happened to you -- most of all that you are not getting support from your employer.

For the record, I have been swatted and laughed it off. I have also been bitten, scratched, kicked in the face...hard enough to bruise and draw blood. That's what I was talking about.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 5,115 Posts

OP, how are you doing?

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