Injured on the job?

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

Hi, I'm curious about how many psych nurses have been injured on the job. I am finishing up my training as a new psych nurse and will be on my own next week.

I've been oriented and gone through the CPI training. Any additional tips on what to look for ? What to avoid?

Any info you are willing to share is appreciated.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Never had anything happen to me that couldn't happen on a medical unit.

Rmember your CPI, know your patients, intervene early, treat others with respect, and don't be a hero. Work as a team, and if a pt needs deescalating you ideally don't do it by yourself.

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so does this mean you have been assaulted? if so I would have expected it.

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Specializes in Family practice, emergency.

Our psych ER and psych inpt floors have a higher rate of injury than other floors. That doesn't mean you should expect it, if it's an ongoing issue your managers should do something about it.

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Thank you mrchicagorn and bebbercorn for your replies.

Fiba , I am not sure what you meant by your comment.

I am asking because I've heard several stories about injuries at my facility.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I worked inpatient psych for many years. I was never injured by a patient or anything close to injury. My glasses did get grabbed and mangled by a lady who was known to reach out and grab glasses. I thought, in my infinite wisdom, that it would never happen to me... ahem....

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I have been pushed once but never injured. Nurses on the medical floors get assaulted/injured more by their delirium patients than we do. I attribute that the strong medications we have available that we don't hesitate to use if we anticipate someone might act up. We have a panic button that we push when we need security there fast and a whole team will show up within minutes. Know when to back off if they need to let off steam (scream, slam doors) and as soon as you notice someone is revving up, MEDICATE!

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

We are a good team and injuries are rare on our unit, but a few serious ones have occurred. I was assaulted and injured one time in the 26 years I've worked on my unit. I missed 5 months of work and still deal with some chronic pain from the incident. My advice is to remember our patients can be completely unpredictable and the unexpected can happen even when you do all the right things.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Never had anything happen to me that couldn't happen on a medical unit.

Same here.

Keep in mind that unlike a lot of other places, we in psych are trained to expect the worst, so we are prepared accordingly. We don't wait until a patient/situation escalates to the point of violence, but we act to prevent that the minute we see the warning signs. Many situations are defused long before that point.

I won't lie: injuries can and do happen in psych. But it's not like like working a shootout at the OK Corral. It's not as bad as most people like to think, but the risk is there.

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I try to introduce myself to the patients and have a pleasant look on my face. My thought is, if the patients like you, they probably won't hurt you. I have been working in psych nursing for 12 years, and, knock on wood, it has worked so far. There are situations where your gut may tell you that niceness won't cut it, and, in those rare situations, I get help or think of another approach.

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Specializes in Psych.

The worst injury I received was a sprained wrist from blocking a punch from a dementia patient who decided it would be fun to go surfing on a Geri chAir. Other than random bruises and scratches that possibly occurred during a restraint (or it's possible that I'm a clutz who walks into things) I've had no other injuries.

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Thank you mrchicagorn and bebbercorn for your replies.

Fiba , I am not sure what you meant by your comment.

I am asking because I've heard several stories about injuries at my facility.

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Well I would expect if a psychiatric nurse works in the ER there is more risk to be assaulted by a patient. I have seen psychiatric nurse work in hospitals and brief intervention units.

Mind you I am not a psychiatric nurse nor have I studied it, I am thinking about becoming one, and go back to school.

currently my background is in criminology I wanted to be a cop.

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