Abuse in Nursing

Nurses Relations

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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.

Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.
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.

Or 1-2mg Versed, or 5mg Valium, or 1-2mg Ativan, or 3-5mg Haldol..... or get bit. Maybe this resident went home with a valuable lesson and studied her dosage and ordering for anxiolytics and sedatives.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I'm so glad that there are people who also agree it isn't right! It gives me hope :) I like the idea of signing consent forms, because then the patient really knew that they were responsible for their actions.

For me alone, I've been punched in the stomach, pinched hard enough to break skin, grabbed and yanked, threatened and spat at. And that's not even counting the times I've had my butt slapped and pinched. I even had a patient grab my crotch! And I swear I am not a mean person at all!

The craziness we see at work!

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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..."

As a patient and someone who admires nurses I would totally support this! Make it in BIG BOLD print so they can't say "I did not see that".

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I don't know why anyone would assault someone who is trying to help them, especially someone who is aware of what they are doing. By reading this board it seems like it happens often. As many times as I have been in the hospital I have never even thought of hitting any caretaker, if I got some bad news while in the hospital did that make me want to hit my nurse? No because if I did that, who would answer my questions, comfort me? ECT...

I was in the ER 2x in 1 month for a medical issue I was having and 2 of the nurses remembered me when they saw me sign in. When they called me back one said I remember you from a few weeks ago still having a problem huh? I was shocked I said how the heck do you remember me? You see so many patients a day, she looked at me and said, you were so polite and friendly and said how much you admire nurses and before you left you went to the Nurses station and thanked the group of nurses/ techs sitting there for what we do. I will never forget that. THAT'S what I want to be known for being POLITE! Not a patient who hits. What happened to NEVER putting your hands on a woman, I can guarantee if someone touched a female out in public like they do in a hospital someone would step in and put them in their place real quick why should a hospital be in any different.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

I would love to know where you work, so that I can stay far, far away. Of course it is not OK and I won't work in a hospital like yours that tolerates it.

I would expect that managment that has so little reguard for it's nurses probably is a terrable place to work in many other ways.

To answer your question, it's not and abuse of nurses is not tolerated in the better hospitals. Try a different employer.

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Specializes in ER.

I worked as an NP in an urgent care clinic where I received several death threats from patients when I would not give them narcotics. The hospital did not support me in pressing charges, and allowed the patients to still receive care at the clinic, but told the patients who threatened me to "stay away from me". I have been harassed at the grocery store, had my car keyed, and I got sick of it and quit that clinic. I find it interesting that every hospital has a work place violence policy but they only pay lip service to it! It is important to find a supportive culture that does not allow this type of activity!

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The facilities need to have a no tolerance policy on this type of behavior.

The consent forms are also a great idea.

With all that being said, there needs to be strict policy regarding patients who are escalating. When a patient continues to increase in agitation, even standing orders are not a bad thing. Medications, a psych consult, and possible transfer to a med/psych unit. Some patients are just dangerous. A 1:1 with security is also a thought.

I get that these instances seem to come out of the blue. But if it occurs once, I wouldn't hesitate to think it would happen again. If a grown person is spitting in my face, then there's an obvious psych issue that needs to be dealt with. If a patient is literally hitting, punching, biting....then this is a patient that needs to be put in psych for some significant issues beyond medical needs. If someone is just being a jerk, then there should be a patient liason person that can discuss further the need for appropriate behavior.

All of this can not be done without the support of the facility. If there is a number of patients that have these concerns, now is the time to talk about how as a unit it will be dealt with. And it is a good thing to discuss with your manager, even the DON if feasible. Put some protocol in place. Get a mental health team together to talk about protocol. Include in this team the NM of your psych unit, to discuss prevention methods.

The unit as a whole needs to take back control.

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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?.

I agree completely....demented or having delusions is different than being a horse's patoot! But barring impaired mental status, there is absolutely no reason for you to put up with this!! I know it is trite and a bit of a cliche, but you really DO teach others how they may treat you. I have often told patients and families that I will NOT TOLERATE their misbehavior, and if they cannot control themselves that I am leaving (the room, or the home in Home Care/Hospice). I have never had an issue....bullies back down when you stand your ground, in my expereince!

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I guess that would depend on how you define "abuse". If it is too much, then there's probably something we can do. If it is just suppressed by their feeling, then we can understand them, right?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Or 1-2mg Versed, or 5mg Valium, or 1-2mg Ativan, or 3-5mg Haldol..... or get bit. Maybe this resident went home with a valuable lesson and studied her dosage and ordering for anxiolytics and sedatives.

The reason the resident was holding him anyway was because the nurses refused to participate if she did not sedate him, for safety reasons. The resident insisted and wrongly implied that we simply didn't know how to properly position and restrain a patient for the procedure. She learned more than one lesson that night, as did her "accomplice".

The Medical Director was not very pleased with the judgement of his resident the next day. I thought he should have been called the night before but the shift supervisor disagreed.

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Specializes in ER.

We had a recent, out of control young patient in the ER. His main diagnosis turned out to be ETOH intoxication, but he was brought in as altered mental status. He attacked another nurse and myself, started to have a major temper tantrum in the room, tried to intimidate us by looking at everyone's badge and saying that he had 'connections' (read, gang connnections), and that he would have us killed.

We called a code grey, got about 15 people in the room, got a spit mask and leather restraints. We eventually called the police. The police officer said that there was no point in pressing charges because the prosecutor's office didn't pursue things like this. That PO'd me. No back up from the governmental officials! Jeez!

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
For me alone, I've been punched in the stomach, pinched hard enough to break skin, grabbed and yanked, threatened and spat at. And that's not even counting the times I've had my butt slapped and pinched. I even had a patient grab my crotch! And I swear I am not a mean person at all!

Oh NO, no no. If those were my pts they would be in 4-point restraints. That's what happens with the physically violent in my hospital. Depending on the severity I would also be pressing charges. This is not normal or expected for nurses...you are a professional, not a martyr. And of course you're not a mean person. One does not ask for sexual assault by being mean--that's what crotch grabbing is, sexual assault--one doesn't ask for it AT ALL.

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