Abuse in Nursing

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am honestly at the breaking point with this topic.

Why is it so acceptable for nurses to be abused at work? By patients and families, co-workers, physicians, etc.? I'm speaking mainly with patients and their families in this topic. The patients are allowed to hit us, spit at us, punch us, verbally abuse us, etc. and we can never do a damn thing about it. I'm usually told, "Well, that's the nature of the job." Since when is that an excuse?! Why are we not allowed to protect ourselves, and even allowed to press charges if we so choose? I'm so confused, and really this is making me hate my job because I have to deal with this at least once a week if not more. If this is "the nature of the job", then count me out.

Any opinions, comments? Help a girl understand here.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Tele, educator, FNP.

I actually quit a job that I loved because I could not handle one more day of abuse. This patient came to the nurses station and verbally abused me in front of all my colleagues. Although they were supportive after he left, no one said anything even me after it happened. I was stunned and wanted to cry. A few days after I quit. I don't think it's right, but I too do not know what we can do about it? We as nurses would have to join together kind of like waitresses who rallied together to stop smoking in clubs and diners. We would need to rally together to stop the abuse.

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Abuse, I understand that we are not customer service operators but we often see people at their worst and unfortunately have to be able to take a certain amount of UNWARRANTED abuse. I try not to let it bother me. I have been yelled at while a person was basically spitting in my face he was so close. I just think of something else and blot it out. Does it work? 1/10th of the time but I just keep thinking that I am in the right, as I most often am and these people, though belligerent, need my help.

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hugs... I feel for you as I see abuses in daily situations but people expect nurses "just to take it." Physical or verbal abuse has not happened to me (surprisingly) but if it does, I am ready to debunk and confront the person (as long as it's not my superior like physician or manager, etc).

Can you imagine if a teacher or engineer or anyone with 4 year degree gets treated like this by clients daily? I have no exact idea how the notion of nurse=slave came about, but the traditional old school view of nursing from our colleagues does not help much either. There are other areas of nursing where we don't have to be bruised up physically and mentally as often, and I am on my mission to find it for my happiness. You do whatever it takes to do what makes you happy, don't heed a word to negative bashers. Expecting respect from your workplace (or anywhere for that matter) is everyone's right.

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If someone hits me I'm pressing charges. I've almost had a patient hit me and I gave him the death look and not even thinking I automatically took a defensive Karate stance and he backed off. I took Karate for 6 years and my fight or flight is fight so before I knew it I was ready for whatever was coming at me. And why shouldn't I be able to defend myself from being attacked by someone who was about to throw a fist towards my face?

No other profession has to take this abuse so why should we? But I know where you are coming from. Tired of the verbal abuse and I usually nip it in the bud right away but I get tired of battling with people. We are not the enemy! Trying my hardest to get away from the bedside and make the same amount that I make now.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

It is not acceptable for any health care worker to be physically abused by a patient. NEVER.

Your first duty is to keep yourself from harm as you cannot provide care to any patient if you are injured.

The employer should have a responsibility to protect the employees from physical danger.

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Specializes in Addictions, Adult Psych.

I wonder if adding it to consent forms would be helpful? "If you physically assault your nurse/healthcare professionals while being cared for at this hospital, police will be called, charges filed, etc..."

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
It is not acceptable for any health care worker to be physically abused by a patient. NEVER.

Your first duty is to keep yourself from harm as you cannot provide care to any patient if you are injured.

The employer should have a responsibility to protect the employees from physical danger.

To add: The Patients' Bill of rights comes with responsibilities; that includes treating other with respect.

Also check your states where assaulting nurses are a felony; if not, meet up with your rates nursing association to lobby for this law.

People can be rude and nasty; however I have NO qualms nipping it in the bud (no skin off my back) and if necessary, pressing charges.

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I think in some states they are passing laws for ED nurses to be able to press charges against pts who assault them. I dont think it is right for people to verbally or physically assault their caretakers, they are biting the hand that feeds them. They are adults and should be held accountable for their actions whether they are in the hospital or not. If they are confused, psychotic, etc then are they really accountable for their actions? If they cant handle themselves as mature adults and it escalates to violence or abusive language, I document it. That behavior obviously reveals something very important about the way they handle stress in general and maybe they do need a psych consult, or maybe they are being manipulative to get more pain meds and dont really need to be in the hospital in the first place. So no it is not right, it should not happen in an ideal world. I think if a person is in their right mind they should be held accountable no matter what area of nursing you are working in because crazy doesnt only happen in the ED.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.

Verbal abuse is one thing, it completely sucks and nobody should have to bear. That said it happens and speech is free and we work with people at life's low points, you kinda just have to toughen your skin to that or move out of there.

As far as physical violence goes, I have wondered about this before when a patient had grabbed my coworker by both arms and was pushing her back, sort of like grappling in the room. While I and another nurse were there to break them up, imagine what would have happened if we weren't? She could've been injured seriously, and while this guy wasn't completely insane to the point of being homicidal, a headfirst slip into the stone wall or tile floor could mean your life. Yeah you can call security but they aren't just going to appear. Had it been me, and I felt truly threatened, I would've gotten physical right back and put the person down by any means to protect myself. Personally as a caring professional, I don't value a single violence-related injury to my own person as worth it for anything - even my license. To hell with that I'm no punching bag.

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I wonder if adding it to consent forms would be helpful? "If you physically assault your nurse/healthcare professionals while being cared for at this hospital police will be called, charges filed, etc..."[/quote']

That's a great idea!

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

I was working in a critical care area one night when a really really confused and combative young man was brought into the unit. Crazy confused and agitated in a big football player sized young adult is not a good thing.

We had to complete an LP on him and during the procedure he bit the Resident on the bicep, broke the skin and everything. The poor girl had to go the ED for treatment and was laid up for a spell.

He needed a human form of a muzzle.

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