Aggressive family member

[Jerez]

So I was placing an IV in a pediatric pt about 6mo and she was of course not happy. She was crying and the mother was comforting her the best she could. As I was placing the IV though, the dad reached across the bed while I had the needle in the child's arm and literally pushed my hands away and told me to stop & get another nurse. I was shocked that someone would do that and was taken completely off guard. The wife had jumped when he did it too and almost intervened but stopped herself. Anyways, I became angry and flustered over the whole ordeal as the doctor had explained in great detail what to expect and gave them the option of PO fluids & meds vs IV. I pulled the needle out and wrapped the child's arm, apologized, and told them I would send in another RN. I spoke to my charge RN about the situation and decided to transfer the child's care to another RN because I felt very uncomfortable at this point. I couldn't help but ask myself over and over what I did to set this man off but at the same time don't think any pt or family member has a right to lay their hands on any staff especially during a procedure. A simple "stop" would have worked just as well. Also, I do understand the frustration of having a sick child that ends up going through painful procedures in order to help them get better so I know that plays a part. I guess I just need to suck it up as part of the job. I just wonder as nurses, should we expect to be abused, whether physically or verbally? Or should I have said something about the inappropriateness of what happened right then & there? I'm not sure what was the most professional thing to do but I did not want to escalate the situation any further but at the same time I wanted to let him know that touching me or any other staff member in an aggressive manner would not be allowed.

[MunoRN, RN]

A hand has just inserted a needle into a child's vein and is still holding the needle. If the hand is pushed at this point the needle will dislodge, causing additional injury and pain to the child. It will also cause the nurse to have a needle stick. Most of us don't like to be stuck with needles that have already been in other people.

If one moves a child's hand away from a knife before it actually touches the knife, then possible injury is prevented. We won't get into the dubious wisdom of teaching a five year old to cut tomatoes.

I'm not suggesting that it's the correctly reasoned action, but that trying to harm the nurse is not only viable explanation for someone putting their hand a nurse's hand to communicate they want something to stop.

As I said before, it's completely reasonable to tell the dad that his action was not appropriate and that if he did so out of concern for his child then touching the hand of someone with a needle in their child has the potential to just do more harm. Telling the dad that you're calling the police and CPS not so much.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I'm not suggesting that it's the correctly reasoned action, but that trying to harm the nurse is not only viable explanation for someone putting their hand a nurse's hand to communicate they want something to stop.

As I said before, it's completely reasonable to tell the dad that his action was not appropriate and that if he did so out of concern for his child then touching the hand of someone with a needle in their child has the potential to just do more harm. Telling the dad that you're calling the police and CPS not so much.

I never thought he was intentionally trying to harm the nurse, but his impulsive actions could have harmed the nurse and more likely his own child. Pushing her hand was a stupid thing to do and had every possibility of making matters worse. Maybe things weren't explained to him properly, maybe the nurse was having difficulty getting a stick, or maybe the dad was just an ass and wanted to be the one running the show.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

Nothing will happen even if she does a " report", because the blind emphasis on { Customer Service!} has resulted in things like this being allowed. The healthcare worker has NO rights: the " customer" has all. And Daddy is free to pull this cr@p again , and again. Unchecked .

You are 100% correct,except for your own protection you need to establish a paper trail.It is about protecting yourself.

From the level of lawlessness we see in hospitals we know ,"nothing will happen" to the perp.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

The intent to help the child get better not to make him develop PTSD or what other ailments you associate with necessary/emergency procedures,I would never have a parent help to hurt his own child by holding down making the child feel betrayed by their parent, no matter what "position of comfort" you profess to practice.

I also said I do not want to be hit on the head,which if you had experience in certain cities you would know what that meant,where the word parent falls short.

[knotizer12]

I think in this situation, I would have looked that parent in the eye and told him point blank... Sir, do not touch me. This IV is necessary for XYZ. It is your right as a parent to refuse this procedure. But please understand that I am here to do my job, and that job is to care for your child.

I think this is a great response. OP, did you explain the procedure when you went in? I know you said the doctor explained everything, but you never know if the father was even paying attention. Maybe he was scared and just kinda nodded his head and went along with everything the MD said without really absorbing it.

I would have gone in, explained who I was, what I would be doing, and asked if it was ok to do. Get that verbal consent and chart it.

It sounds like there wasn't any violent intent, but the father acted in an inappropriate way. I think so many nurses (and unfortunately administrators) seem to think violence or "putting hands on a medical person" is "just part of the job". And thus patients get away with it more and more.

Not to mention the whole "customer service" thing I see in more and more hospitals and clinics. I even have been hearing they want us to say "customer" rather than "patient". F-ing nuts.

Sometimes I wonder if more and more nurses are afraid to speak up for fear of being fired or retaliated against because so many administrators are so quick to side with the patient over their staff.