Antagonizing patients--just a vent

[Isitpossible]

I have been in psych now about 7months. I am very disturbed at some of the behaviors exhibited by experienced nursing. Why do some nurses antagonize these patients. Patients are there for a reason, is it really necessary to be sarcastic and use foul language with these patients? could this behavior happen or even be tolerated on any other type of unit?? why is this okay for psych patients? I cant stand it. One of the off-going nurses got in the patients face demanding that he go to his room. The patient back talked, but really he is very psychotic. He went to the doorway and stood in the doorway. That wasn't good enough for the nurse. The nurse got right up in his face, I mean nose to nose, and screamed you better get in that room right now, Im not playing with you... it was just so unnecessary and demeaning to the patient. The nurses posturing was a scary. Granted these patients can be trying, but again that's why there are in the hospital. If your burnt out please allow another nurse to take over, and stop personalizing their behaviors. I really want to report this to the NM, but its such a difficult situation being the new one, complaining about the seasoned one.. ughgh... its just sickening sometimes... very un-therapeutic and sad

[New Angel]

I have also been extremely alarmed by the cursing and 'venting' commentary of my coworkers. I only see this type of talk during shift change reports, and if I ever felt a patient was being mis-treated I would not hesitate to address the issues with that coworker or with my supervisor. So, because it is just an issue of 'behind closed doors' venting, I have never felt responsible t advocate on behalf of the patients to stop that talk. I take it as a cue to review myself professionaly and make sure my language remains concrete, relevant, respectful, and professional.

[TerpGal02, ASN]

I've never seen any of my fellow nurses or mha's be verbally abusive go a pt, but there are those staff that whenever they are on, you know there's going to be at least one person in the quiet room that shift. There's one particular nurse I work with that likes to keep the adult pts PRN'ed and if they refuse the PO PRN, she always threatens them with an IM, even though their behavior is definitely not escalated enough to warrant an I'M.

[batgirl23]

I've never seen any of my fellow nurses or mha's be verbally abusive go a pt, but there are those staff that whenever they are on, you know there's going to be at least one person in the quiet room that shift. There's one particular nurse I work with that likes to keep the adult pts PRN'ed and if they refuse the PO PRN, she always threatens them with an IM, even though their behavior is definitely not escalated enough to warrant an I'M.

This is beyond verbal abuse. It is unprofessional, unethical and may be considered illegal (threats, coercion, unlawful confinement (in the quiet room) & assault come to mind...). It must be reported and stopped. If it is not reported then it is condoned which makes you as guilty as the perpetrator. Patients have rights and this nurse is clearly violating them and on a regular basis by the sounds of it.

Sorry if I sound harsh but this kind of "Nurse Ratched" behaviour is what gives psychiatry a bad name.

And don't think I don't understand about dealing with aggressive, violent, challenging patients. I have worked in psych my entire career (26+ years - 11 years on inpatient acute care units, 7 in outpatients and 9 years in education supporting frontline staff) and for 4 years before that as an aide in along-term residential facility for the mentally ill. I have worked in all specialty MH areas except addiction and children's, including an Acute Obs Unit (PICU) and a medium secure Forensic Unit. Our facility treats very chronic, treatment-resistant, complex patients.

[TerpGal02, ASN]

Trust me, I know how terrible it is. This one nurse I'm thinking of is just incapable of verbal de-escalation so wants them PRN'd before it gets to that. And no one is forced to the quiet room, you just know when certain MHAs are on you are going to start seeing escalated behaviors. There's one male staff that usually works with the children and when he's on adolescent or adult, people start acting out. He told an adolescent who was the most severe cutter I've seen that, "that's gross, stop doing it" she was very upset and it took me 45 minutes of processing to get her calmed down enough she stopped crying. He got written up for that. The nurse I'm talking about does better in ECT. The patients are asleep. It shocks me how some of the staff that have been at this a long time just can't therapeutically communicate with our chronics. I love em and can usually get them calmed down without a PRN and if they're needed, I can usually get them to accept a PO. I love the chronics. I started my career in the community taking care of them.