How much Verbal Abuse should a nurse take from a PATIENT?

Nurses Safety

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I have just started a new home health care case. My client is a well to do person and treats the other nurses and myself like DIRT... Constant verbal abuse is a norm from this client.

We have been called the "w" word for prostitute, the "s" word for loose woman, the "B" word for female dog and worse.

the last shift I worked this client pulled my hair, slapped at me, sniped, spit and was totally "with it" during every episode.

This client's tounge is like a two sided razor and I'm needing advice on how to Doctument the abuse with out being personal, catty or unprofessional.

HELP!!!!

I think that BURDEN OF PROOF hit the nail on the head!!

Yes I agree that hospitals are all too consumed with delivering the best 'customer service' from ailing near nurseless institutions whilst failing to provide full support for staff in the event of such occurances which unfortunately are not isloated....and they wonder why the nursing crisis has reached the epic cresendo it has......

We are educated, gifted, intuative, thoughtful, selfless humanitarians that should not tolerate any abuse in any shape or form.... if they snap at you due to pain or something yes you can let that slide as most times they will apologise, but to take an A&O patients CRAP NO NO NO!! But lets look on the bright side......when you encounter those selfless patients after a load of rotten apples it reinforces why you are there.......

Management seriously needs to reckon with the abuse we encounter and stop dismissing incidences as 'part of nursing'....... And I CANNOT and WILL NOT tolerate a relative or friend who is stuffed with self importance dare utter anything nasty, derrogative or outright insulting to me under any circumstances.... especially those ones that look like they have never worked a day in their miserable lives or just dont have a miserable life of their own fullstop! :(

Socrates Soul.....you go girl!

I think I would be tempted to give him a big dose of ex-lax right before I left. ha If we don't stand up for ourselves, who will? Abuse is wrong.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I would say, none, in most situations. Ya got to set limits and stick to them. I learned that in nursing school and believe it today.

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

AmyERNurse,

Slight correction - yes, "Cracker" is now a derogatory term for white people - However, the origin is not necessarily about overseers.

In north and central Florida, where farming, cattle ranching, and raising of horses were once staples of the local economies, the cowboys/ranchers would "crack" their whips over the head of cattle/horses (for history of this term, see articles about Polk County, Florida history) - as most of the "crackers" were working class whites - a "cracker" is a working class person.

As the granddaughter and great granddaughter of crackers, I salute you - just don't call me a Yank. (just kidding)

i got called a f***ing fat lesbian bi+ch last night by a drunk who was handcuffed to his cart.....all because he wanted a drink of water. my co-worker said "why do you look upset" i said " hey, i'm not fat am i?" lol do you think he got a drink of water??????? he did manage to flip the cart over onto it's side while still handcuffed to it...finally got an order for vitamin a and vitamin h im....i walked in with the syringe, he says "whats that?" i say "your drink of water" lr ;)

please forgive me all......

but just to post my opinion........

when we choose to nurse and care and be so close to people this closely.......

we place ourselves so closely to them.....that we are going to exposed to verbosity and verbal emotions and verbal onslaughts............more than less.......

if this is TOO MUCH OF A PROBLEM FOR YOU......maybe think about time to take time off or change what you do......

cause

"When you care so deeply and so closely to another human being.....in the midst of their suffering and fear......you are their nearest target..............and I say.......get over it.......or get out....."

that is why you can not be a NURSE 24/7 or "even care" all the time.........

because when you are the nurse you must take it all'''

maybe just an idealist..........

anyway micro and out

scrupulously document everything said or done by this patient. notify your superior--in writing--that you refuse to continue care for this patient. and last, if a patient ever laid a hand on me, i would report him to the police and file battery charges. if he threatened me, i'd file threat charges. you DO NOT have to tolerate this sort of garbage.

Dear Blissisbeth,Do not take abuse. Do call police if attacked, as for verbal abuse,take away a privilege. On the Psych unit,we can take away smoke breaks,etc. Look at what he enjoys and tell him he will not get candy or cigarette or whatever if he is abusive. Be calm and firm. Present yourself as helping him to learn to control himself,etc. Always smile and be courteous. He may be afraid of dying-they often are and they are right! They will die.

We had a resident who became VERY physically violent( he decked me and I'm six feet two inches and well, I'm not a size ten!! ;) ) It turned out that the quack who admitted him had written down the wrong dose on two meds. Once the problem of his meds was resolved he was gentle as a lamb. Other than that I'd just refuse to go to him without an escort.

No way do I accept that abuse of any kind is part of my job as a nurse.

When I worked in hospice, I had a pt that grabbed my breast, and when I jumped up to get away, he grabbed my crotch. When I told my supervisor, she LAUGHED!! I told her I did not see how it was funny in any way.

As someone else noted, these people sign agreements when they request homecare services; if they can't abide by something as simple as treating the nurse with respect, then they forfeit the right to receive that care.

This is just another reason why nurses continue to leave. We need to start caring for each other the way we care about our pts.

I'm in total agreement with all who have said "You don't have to take it!!!"

An "Assignment Against Objection" form may do wonders if you are ever assigned a patient with a history of abusing nurses, among other things. If your agency/unit doesn't have them, just look them up on the internet.

I do have a question about the patient. Is he/she under any social services/disability/etc. benefits where if recovery occurs, employment must follow? Many of our "Frequent flyers" in our hospital are known to have relapses of their disease just when their benefits are being "threatened" by health. some openly admit, "Well, I was being told I better find a job, and it seemed much easier to stop using my inhalers and start smoking again...."

Just a thought...

Yes, I'd document factually. Then, I'd call the doctor and see about maybe getting a routine dose of about 500mg Thorazine IM qd. :) Well, OK, maybe the doctor wouldn't order that. Just a thought.

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