A nurse friend of mine passed away: A WARNING TO ALL

[RN1982]

A friend of mine, someone I worked with for a few years , passed away Wednesday. She was doing home health care nursing and she was seeing a patient that day. The police/fire depts were called after a fire was reported. After they put out the fire, they discovered my friend and her patient had been shot multiple times. She was a mother and a wife, someone's daughter and someone's sister and friend. She will be missed. She was also a great nurse.

Let this be a warning to anyone who does home care, never let your guard down and always be aware of what is going on around you. Never be defenseless.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

Sorry for your loss...The reminder about situational awareness is never out of line...

[Blackheartednurse]

That is why I dont like to go to to the houses of people that I dont know.

[nursel56]

I'm so sorry about your friend, TLS. . there is just no sense to be made of it. Bless you and her grieving family. . .

Zuzi- the companies I've worked for do not have a policy that relates to the safety of their employees. Nor do they do a criminal background check on the patient or their family. They make an initial "look see" of a house, draw a diagram of exit strategies and identify potential safety risks, (things like slippery throw rugs or too much clutter)

The most I've heard is advice to "drive around the block a few times to make sure you feel safe" before getting out of your car. Boy, I wish they'd send nurse partners, like cop partners, if it's dangerous, but we all know that won't happen, at least not in my state.

I took TurnLeftSide's warning as - BE ALERT to your surroundings- look, listen and if something seems iffy- get the h out of there! Thanks again for thinking of your fellow nurses, TLS :redpinkhe

[Katie5]

Shot multiple times?Wow

[fiveofpeep]

is there a news article related to this? Id like to fwd it to my old school because they sent students alone (even without a nurse) to home assignments in shady areas of LA during our community health semester.

[Music in My Heart]

Are home health nurses permitted to carry a gun?

Some states are "right-to-carry" states and others are "permit-to-carry." In many of the latter, getting a permit is very difficult.

Regardless of a permit, though, employers can certainly dictate whether people may be armed. In the case of my organization, possession of a firearm on company property or while working is grounds for immediate termination.

[OldnurseRN]

I am sorry to hear of the passing of your friend. My sincere sympathies. As to those criticizing your "warning" as being harsh ... it's semantics, folks. Give her a break.

[Perpetual Student]

TurnLeftSide, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend.

That is why I dont like to go to to the houses of people that I dont know.

It can happen anywhere at any time. Predators go where the prey is. You could be attacked even in the nicest neighborhood, at your closest friend's house. Or your own house.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Anyone with a license can carry a gun in Texas. If I were a home health nurse I would consider it.

This is a terrible situation and I feel so sorry for her friends and family who never expected a day at work would end this way.

[RN1982]

Thank you for the condolensces. Please pray for her family.

[erroridiot]

Having been the recipient of violence on the job while working in home health, I thank you for your well intentioned warning. At least you care enough to say something, employers could not care less about the physical safety of their home health nurses.

This is the exact truth. I have never had or heard of an employer in home health care with the slightest regard for the safety of their staff.

An escort, buddy or even a police officer cannot stop a drive by bullet from hitting anyone.

I have been in neighborhoods where SWAT teams were active in pursuit or ramming into a house. The only safe place to be in the event of a shooting is inside of a military tank.

Home care employers don't want to hear that you can't go to the gun club crack house because you might get shot. They want the case and the money and if you don't deliver it, they will find another nurse to go get the bucks for them.

Homes with weapons and drugs are found in all neighborhoods.

What happened to your friend was a terrible tragedy. I cannot imagine your grief.

I am so sorry for your loss.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Oh my...... I am so VERY sorry. Horribly tragic. My sincerest condolenses on the loss of your friend. Prayers going out to her family and loved ones. Such a loss.

(((gentle hugs to you)))