Abuse against nurses

[eernuts]

We are trying to write a policy about patient/family or others abuse/violence against nurses.

We have a policy but we don't have an official procedure (step #1, Step #2 etc...). Once we have talked to the aggressor and it doesn't get better, we administratively discharge them or ban them from the campus in the case of a visitor. I think we need something a little more definitive. Does anyone have a policy that you could talk about or share in terms of this topic? Thanks!

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

If we have a patient that gets out of hand/violent we call a code strong over head--many times just the presence of the paramedics and Er doc and any other available staff coming into the room calms them right down---in the case of detoxing pts or just the plain ol crazy ones, we have the manpower there to restrain or sedate them as medically necessary.

As far as families---we have only had to escort one family out and we did that by calling the police--kind of extreme I know, but they were not a patient so we really couldnt give them a shot of much needed geodon(sp)!!!

[RN1982]

Hopefully every hospital has a procedure to deal with violent patients/family members. I also believe that every state should be allowed to prosecute violent patients/family members who have assaulted any healthcare worker. I don't worry about it too much. All of our security is comprised of off duty police officers.

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

We have no security!! If we need additional manpower we have to call in the paramedics who are next door and hope they are not on a run. Sometimes I think we are crazy especially 3rd shift when we are a skeletal staff at best and the doors are wide open.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

Hopefully every hospital has a procedure to deal with violent patients/family members. I also believe that every state should be allowed to prosecute violent patients/family members who have assaulted any healthcare worker. I don't worry about it too much. All of our security is comprised of off duty police officers.

Same here. Security here is also armed.

[RN1982]

Same here. Security here is also armed.

Oh yea, forgot that part. AND they've had shoot outs by ER...

[TiredMD]

Once we have talked to the aggressor and it doesn't get better, we administratively discharge them or ban them from the campus in the case of a visitor.

Be weary that "aggressive patient" isn't actually suffering from TBI or delerium or some such medical condition. You wouldn't be the first hospital to confuse the two, nor would you be the first to pay a big settlement for your mistake.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

Same here. Security here is also armed.

OMG that is so scary, not even our police are armed in the UK unless they are part of an armed response.

We have a policy that sounds similar to many of yours, the patients are warned, security called if after warning they persist then they are again warned that they could be discharged and they medics involved in the care are called to assess.

Following the first warning if needed security will remain to provide protection to the staff

We have onsite psych and an onsite policeman, these are also called. Once assessed as no medical or psych causes if they continue they are discharged and escorted.

[mcubed45]

in the outpatient clinic side of our hospital, if a patient is phsically or verbally abusive towards staff, an unusal occurence report is filed. after investigation, if they feel the patient was way out of line they become classified as an "abusive patient". at that point, anytime they enter our facility they MUST check in with security. they are then escorted by security the entire time they are a the facility. if they refuse to comply or continue to abuse staff, their membership may be revoked.

it's a fairly lengthy process but quite effective. i'm not sure if the policy is the same for inpt's though.