Abuse of Nurses

[widi96]

So we have recently had a patient on our unit (tele unit) that has threatened to kill staff members, called them numerous obscenities and physically assaulted at least two nurses. This is an alert and oriented patient who know exactly what she is doing. We had a meeting today and discussed what the appropriate action would be (the nurses were discussing pressing assault charges). We were told that if the patient continued to assault staff they would be given the option to sign out AMA or restraints would be applied. They are basically giving this patient free reign to slug one of us each time she gets admitted (which is frequently) before restraints are discussed. We were told we can NOT press charges and everything would have to go through the hospitals attorney if we insisted on pursuing something. This seems absolutely ludicrous to me. If an A&Ox3 pt is repeatedly assaulting staff - we can't press charges, but you know, if we try to get them to do anything they don't want, it is assault charges against us. Does anyone know if this is the norm, or what would you do it a pt hit you? (Again, this is a&ox3, not a demented little person who doesn't know what they are doing)

[EarthChild1130]

That sounds like a load of garbage...ideally everyone should be on board and explain to her that should she feel the need to be assaultive, she will no longer be admitted. Even with a psych consult, people who are assaultive have no right to be. I could POSSIBLY see her behavior if she were psychotic/paranoid/delusional/etc...but if she is alert/oriented and able to be reasoned with, then that behavior should be brought under control.

Time for a come-to-Jesus meeting, and I'd press charges whether the hospital liked it or not! They can't stop you from protecting yourself! That's like the manager of Wal-Mart telling you not to call the cops if you were assaulted by a shopper there...simply ludicrous!!