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

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

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.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

I would recommend that you consider some follow up post-crisis debriefing or counseling after this episode. Find some supports. Violence, regardless if caused by a patient, can often leave a scar. You deserve to heal without going numb like your colleagues. You have my best...and my Hugs.

Peace.

Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

KittyKat - OMG!!!! I am so sorry to hear what happened to you. It just seems like more and more we are subject to physical harm as well as exposure to diseases. I have had near misses before, but thankfully got missed.

This past week, one of the nurses that we worked with was stabbed in one of the public bathrooms while trying to give aid to an alleged person that was ill in the BR. They still haven't caught him. He was trying to rape her and when she fought him off, he stabbed her.

Again, I am so sorry this happened to you. I hope you feel better soon.

Hugs to you,

Anne, RNC

Specializes in Psychiatric, Detox/Rehab, Geriatrics.
I would recommend that you consider some follow up post-crisis debriefing or counseling after this episode. Find some supports. Violence, regardless if caused by a patient, can often leave a scar. You deserve to heal without going numb like your colleagues. You have my best...and my Hugs.

Peace.

Very well stated. That is exactly what I would do in that situation. I hope you can figure things out and that you will be alright. I'm sorry this happened to you. I wish you the best of luck.

Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Today is a new day and I'm feeling a bit better. My family was good to me last night, caring and supportive, and that helped. Having this forum is a tremendous aid to the healing process. Thank you for responding. I have to go to work now. I'm in charge today. I won't be as dismissive if someone gets hurt as I experienced yesterday.

Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

I am sorry that this has happened to you. Were their conseqeunces to the patients actions? I don't get it, there should be consequences even if they are a psych patient.

((((((RNKittyKat)))))

It's damn shame what nursing has come to.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
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.

(((((((((((((RNKITTYKAT))))))))))))

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.

Hang in there hon, and whatever you do, DON'T accept this as 'part of the job'. Nobody pays you enough to take abuse. Stand up for yourself, and others will follow.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Sending hugs.

Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I am so sorry that you went through this and that no one came to your defense. That should not happen.

Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

It means a lot to me that many of you have sought to comfort me. I really think it's time for me to get honest with myself about whether I really want to remain in the mental health field. There are some alternatives I'm considering. I'm feeling more like a powerless prison guard than a nurse. It's time for a change.

Specializes in behavioral health.

I'm very sorry that you were assaulted. I'm not completely sure what people mean by 'professional'. Does that mean that you are punched in the face and expected to work like normal as you expect your computer to work after you got upset with it and shook it. I agree that a 'professional' must be able to take control of a situation, keep patients safe, and maintain others feelings of safety without your lead (which you did very well), but there is a point in which you are a person who was assaulted. I am learning also that people grow numb. They must grow numb by experiencing these things and pushing the natural feelings aside and not processing.

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.

*hugs*

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