Customer Violence

While I agree that such behavior is inappropriate, it doesn't rise to the definition of "violence" in my opinion. To lump the two together dilutes the response to real violence (which includes threats of same). Yes, threats to report me to management or to get a lawyer are stressful, I can cope with them. A threat to "get" me or my family is a whole separate matter.

When threatened with a lawsuit I generally respond that "yes, you may hire an attorney and sue both me and the hospital...that is why I write down everything that you say in a threatening manner". The first time I said something of this nature I was a young RN in a Peds ICU. The "uncle" of the child responded something to the effect that I should becareful walking to my car at night (I worked 3-11). I asked him in a clear and loud voice if he was physically threatening me...a number of people heard me...he, of course, denied it...but you can bet that I documented every word. I also notified security (why the heck are they not armed?) and never walked alone to my car until well after that child was gone from our unit. By the by...I have a CCW and have been known to carry when visiting patients in the greater Detroit area. I recently had a fellow approach me as I was walking back to my car (by company policy I was wearing all white, obviously a nurse in a VERY bad neighborhood)...I kept walking...put my hand to the small of my back...and said very loudly..."DO NOT SPEAK TO ME...DO NOT APPROACH ME...YOU DO NOT WANT TO MESS WITH ME". I was not kidding, and apparently he believed that I was not kidding as he turned around and went the other way. You can bet that my heart was pounding just about out of my chest, but I was prepared to shoot that idiot if he tried anything.

If it's physical violence, the hospital needs to have a zero tolerance policy. If a nurse reports being hit, her supervisor MUST let her press charges, in my opinion.

If it's more like verbal abuse, I'd suggest educating the nurses. Verbal abuse is hard to stop. And even good people say nasty things sometimes in periods of stress. Let's say the hospital wants to improve things. Could they bring in someone to coach the nurses on dealing with verbal abuse? They should also make it more clear to their nurses when it's ok to just walk out of the room when a family member starts cussing them out or when it's ok not to pamper someone's nasty demands. If nurses felt 100% secure in not being penalized for doing their job, they would get flustered when Mrs Smith threatens to file a report if his meds are 5 minutes late.

Just my 2 cents worth.

U just proved my point. People of this nature, the "reason of insanity" types have enough reason/sanity to know who to do it too. They tend to bypass me for others.

Case in point: Alcoholics going through DTs. Kicking, screaming, grabbing at nurses. Make every attempt to harm their caregivers. Someone who has........IDK, a persona/look of someone who hits back comes in and.........well, the aim their attacks very well at others, make every effort not to strike me. It just can't be coincidence.

I think of it like this: Ever see pushy customers and how they operate? They tend to pick on the teen-age burger cashier, putting the finger in their face and yelling. The second the adult manager arrives, they all of a sudden regain their self composure and..............talk rationally. They may still demand their money back and raise the voice a little, but the extra curricular stuff magically disappears. The difference being.......someone their own size is in front of them now.