Sucker punched. First time I was ever punched by a man.

[wonderbee]

I really did not see it coming. It happened so fast. It was also not addressed. Half the staff was in a staff meeting. The other half was running around like ants on an ant farm. The patient wasn't even redirected. The staff meeting went on, the ants kept moving. Not a beat was skipped. I was punched in the nose and mouth. Nothing broken. I was punched in the face by a man and I DIDN'T CRY! I was told I was required to be seen by the workers comp people. All I wanted to do was finish my work, take some ibuprophen and an ice pack and go to sleep. It was toward the end of my shift. My nose hurt, my teeth hurt, but I stayed to take off the remaining orders and finish report. No big deal. We're just suppoed to suck it up, get our jobs done and move on like nothing happened. Other patients saw the incident. I don't like the idea that's conveyed that a staff member can be assaulted without intervention. I was even asked to work an extra 4 hours by the incoming charge nurse. She's had her share of assaults too. We're so numb.

After my exam at the worker's comp place, I got in my car and the tears just started flowing. I can't seem to stop them. I can't remember if this was my sixth or seventh assault in the last year. I'm not angry at the patient. I don't know what I feel. How does a professional behave after an assault? What's wrong with this picture? My face hurts and I have a nasty headache but it's my spirit that took that nastiest hit.

[truern]

Oh, no he didn't!! (((((kittykat)))))

You should press assault charges...I don't care if he's a psych patient, he needs to know that there are consequences to bad behavior!!

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

If I were to press charges, it would have had to be done at the time of the occurrence. At the time of the occurrence, I thought the patient could not be held accountable because of his illness. Now I know otherwise. He not only remembers what happened but states he would do it again. So if he does it again, there will be charges.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

.On another note, there is something about being punched by a man. You emphasized this as I would have done as well. There is something victim-ish and even some gender roles playing a part in getting punched by a man.

Yes, this is an important dynamic. It stirs the pot.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

It didn't happen that long ago, did it? I don't understand why you'd have to wait for it to happen again rather than filing charges now.

[DavidLCPCCSADC]

"This is unacceptable. People MUST be held accountable for abusing healthcare workers, and management MUST back up their employees in situations such as you have experienced. You have every right to file assault and battery charges against that patient.......maybe if you do so, it will send a message to him that it's not OK to hurt others, and to your employer that they cannot just look the other way when their staff are beaten, hit, kicked, scratched, bitten and so forth."-VivaLas

Agreed, Assault charges are the logical consequences for the behavior. Failing to press charges when appropriate "enables" the behavior. What a unit allows, they promote.

[lucianne]

If he has said he would do it again, I believe that constitutes a threat. Why is he still on the unit you are on? Is there no higher security/acuity unit he could go to?

When I worked inpatient, I got sucker-punched too, by a 12 year old girl with a cast on her arm. I was just thankful that she didn't hit me with her cast. When no one bothered to redirect her or check to see if I was ok, either that night or the next day, it was just one more reason to want to leave that unit. I had even come in on my night off as a favor--last time I did that.

One thing that helped me tremendously when I was working there was seeing a therapist who had worked in a very similar setting. She knew what it was like "in the trenches."

[IMustBeCrazy]

If I were to press charges, it would have had to be done at the time of the occurrence. At the time of the occurrence, I thought the patient could not be held accountable because of his illness. Now I know otherwise. He not only remembers what happened but states he would do it again. So if he does it again, there will be charges.

Law Enforcement officials can NOT deny you the opportunity to give a written statement. In fact, you can hand write a statement and deliver it to the nearest LE office. I don't care if the situation occurred 2 weeks ago. Sounds like someone is trying to dissuade you. And, it is not up to LE to press charges, that would be the purvue of the local district attorney. So pooh on them!

My biggest concern is that you have been assaulted so many times. No need to be a punching bag. Nursing has too many choices to continue to be disrespected by your facility and battered by patients in your current position. I would talk to a psychologist, get on FMLA and use your short term disability/vacation/PTO and take that time to find another position. I would also encourage you to do some soul searching to determine if you had somehow unwittingly put yourself in the line of fire. Sometimes it does come down to misreading situations or violating cardinal rules like "always be between the patient and the door" or "2 armlengths away" kinds of things. Good luck!

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

The sad truth is that to press charges could likely result in further loss for me. It could mean loss of my job. On its surface, I know that makes no sense but it is the reality. As a non-union nurse, I don't have the protection the others have. The best thing I can do for myself is to get out of the line of fire and the best way to accomplish that is to move on and I already have those wheels in motion. How fast they move is not in my hands but I'm working on it.

As for the safety concerns as to how I may have contributed to the assaults, I don't think there is anything I could have done differently. I am not alone on my unit in being abused by patients nor do I hold the record. It's a dangerous unit, a dangerous place to work and I'm just done. Unfortunately I have to work there until plan B materializes.

The advice to talk to a therapist is good advice and well taken. I am making arrangements to do just that.

[inthesky]

I am a non-union nurse in a right to work state; it sucks. You can literally lose your job because day shift Nancy hates you for no reason. I hope you get a new job soon.

[Mr Ian]

If I were to press charges, it would have had to be done at the time of the occurrence. At the time of the occurrence, I thought the patient could not be held accountable because of his illness. Now I know otherwise. He not only remembers what happened but states he would do it again. So if he does it again, there will be charges.

Sorry about your experience Kitty...

There are two serious issues:

The statute of limitations does not really apply in this sense - a reasonable time delay (I guess a few weeks) is acceptable.

Whether the guy was mentally ill or not at the time is irrelevant - that is for the process to determine. Either way - a conviction recorded is collateral. If someone here has a criminal conviction upheld but whilst in the context of a mental illness - then they are given a whole different detention for treatment order that is highly restricted. Not sure how your state MHA laws work so can't say.

However, in law there is a general principle of M'Naugthen rule - that the person was so mentally disadvantaged to have not understood their act to be wrong. It seems he does fully understand and what's more - states he will do it again. Of course - if it is in the context of "because you are all putting poison into me and trying to kill me" - it's mental illness and defensible under M'Naughten - but it should still be held on record as a serious assault.

As for the other part:

Your employer should have an Employee Assistance Scheme (not sure on law of oyur state, but the principles of Health & Safety at Work apply). They are liable for your well being. They should also have processes in place to deal with post-incident de-briefing.

If they don't offer you these - you can go off on worker's comp "work related stress" and take civil action against them. They are being negligent.

On a final note:

Patients who assault staff in cold calculated manner (behavioural) are never treated with anything but maximum "risk management" - which unfortunately (for them) means highly restrictive protocols - often in a non-smoking area of the ward.

[NPAlby]

I don't understand why you can't press charges. I would contact security in the facility or the local police dept and find out to be on the safe side. How could there be no response to a patient hitting anyone? No restraints, no IM's? ***?!!! How could your co-workers be so uncaring? Definitely get out of that facility but please dont leave psych. Especially if that's the only psych position you've had. We really aren't supposed to be punching bags for the patients. Good luck and big hug!