A verbally and physically abusive resident

[yve12345]

I am so glad to have found this forum and I hope you guys will give me perspective because I am at a point of backing out of nursing profession.

I became a CNA about 9 months ago in NJ and have since been working in what is considered the most difficult nursing home in NJ Here they have people of all categories;the mentally deranged, acute cases, alzheimers unit etc. Because they take in "everybody" they can and still have one of the oldest equipment and supplies in the area despite paying one of the highest wages for CNAs( 14.45 for part time and 16.35 for full time)

When I started working there, they said if you can work in this facility then you can work anywhere else. The first 3 months were so frustrating I almost quit but I was challenged because I met a few people who have been there for years and I said if they can work here then I could atleast go through the first year and then it's going to challenge me to see if nursing is really the profession I have to venture into. So I kept on

The other day, I went to work and had a double shift. I was put in a new wing with very difficult and acute cases. I have become used to the verbal abuse and sometimes physical abuse that the residents inflict on us. But this particular lady wouldn't stop cursing, yelling, screaming. There is no name she didn't call me...****,******, pig, stupid, witch, go *** urself. I will hit you in the stomach. I will kill you repeatedly each time she sees me and she was assigned to me. I tried avoiding her but she shares her room with 2 other residents who need total care. So I go into the room to care for the other residents and she wheels her chair and launches at me from the back. I turn around so scared because here am I 10 weeks pregnant and this lady is going to hit me in the stomach like she said. So I grab her by her wrists and put her on her chair. She cusses me out a few more times before calming down and wheels her chair towards her bed. 4 other CNAs on the wing had witnessed the verbal abuse earlier and ran into the room when I yelled for help. The nurse was not on her station at the time so...everyone is like no big deal and goes about their business. 15 minutes later I came out of another room to see this lady surrounded by the nurse and the supervisors and this lady is screaming " she attacked me, she wanted to kill me." Then looks at me and says " I will have you arrested". I look at her wrists and she has bruises on her wrist where I held her and out her back on her chair.

Next thing I know I am asked to write a report and leave the building immediately. An investigation is going to be opened. I haven't been called back to work yet.

Well at this point, I feel sorry for leaving minor bruises on the resident. There are many times I have spoken against resident abuse and trust me, there's a lot of it going on in this facility. I have always avoided it and have never had any incident of the sort with any resident because I do my job driven by compassion and integrity towards these elderly people. But should I have allowed this resident physically attack me for nothing while I am pregnant? Maybe this profession is not just meant for me. What is your opinion on resident verbal and physical abuse on staff?

Thanks for your responses