ACT team and safety

[cowgirl42]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I've been a psych nurse for 6yrs. I've just accepted a position on the ACT team in what would be considered the inner city of the city I live in. I have a toddler at home which cause me to pause and wonder about the safety of this job. Does anyone here have any experience working on an ACT team & if so any advice. Thanks ~Cowgirl42

[Mish56, BSN, RN]

Hey Cowgirl,

I take it by ACT team you mean Assertive Community Treatment? Those folks who track down mental health clients living on the streets? I have NOT done this, I did work briefly as a VNA psych nurse on a per diem basis, but I left that due to safety concerns, and I have 2 co-workers (inpatient unit) that also left VNA psych jobs for the same reason.

I would check with your new employer about safeguards they have in place. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Good luck!

[Balki]

I'm currently a nursing student, but I have worked for a few years on ACT teams as a Case Manager. Incidents that nurses I work with have reported include: having one's car covered by shaving foam (actually did some damage to the paint), having poop thrown in your direction, same for a computer monitor and an office chair (all that middle school dodgeball training finally having some good use), feeling threatened and walking out of the office to call the security, being run over by somebody while trying to stop them from running out of the office (JUST PLAIN FOOLISH), having somebody figure out your phone number and call every night to tell you that you need to stop your voice echoing in their head. I've also heard about an incident from early 80's where a large female client actually tried to strangle a tiny female RN in her office. Nothing worth mentioning has really happened in recent years, it seems that there was more action back in the 80s and 90s. Oh yeah, a fire extinguisher recently got thrown into the plexiglass separating the MOA's desk from waiting room.

Most of the day to day activities are actually pretty safe. You could end up being a victim working as a nurse anywhere really. :wink2:

If your job would involve doing outreach alone to people you don't know, I would not do it. Agencies and states vary in their take on ACT teams and in how safe you would be.

[nancynjnurse]

i work as one of the nurses on a PACT team. Of course you have to use common sense and watch your back . we always pair up on an initial outreach and if there are any safety concerns. i've gone to some areas in 'the hood' where a lot of gang members were hangin out and opted not to do the visit. we have some of our persons served meet us in safer environments than where they live and we do whatever it takes to be safe. i've been spit on, bitten and choked in other areas of nursing but with PACT so far so good.:bowingpur

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

I hope you get a thorough orientation with lots of opportunity to observe and learn. It sounds challenging.

[josh1974, LPN]

I worked as a case amanger for an ACT team in Muncie, IN, small town but with the same big city probs. We have (usually) 2 RN's on the team and they usually stay in the office busy with meds, vitals and paperwork. When they have to go out into the community they always took one of us with them, we knew the area so makes sense. Our team always tries to be as safe as possible but you are in the community and some of it isn't pretty or safe. You just gotta be on your toes and very aware of your surroundings. The cl's we work with are very sick and can be unpredictable but normally everything runs smooth. Good luck.