Assaulted while working

nursynurseRN · Aug 25, 2012

I have been doing HHC for 1 yr now, previously an ED/ICU RN within the same health system I currently work for. I have the inner city route, and have been working in these communities in one capacity or another for over 10 years with no problems. About a month ago I was carjacked at gun point after seeing a patient.
I went back to work a few days later, to get back in the swing of things, however I have been having a lot of trouble coping with it over the last 3 weeks. I don't have enough PTO saved up to take off for an extended period of time, and I'm not sure if it would be reasonable to request or expect that my place of employment provide me with paid time off at their expense at this point?
Has anyone been assaulted to this degree while seeing patients, and if so, how did you and your work place handle it?
Thank you.

I have been doing HH for a couple years now off and on per diem. I ahve never been assaulted but I have been scared to be in weird places and streets that seem unsafe. I think that maybe you should ask for an escort to help you out for awhile while you get over the stress?

westieluv · Aug 25, 2012

Talk to your supervisor about this. I used to be a night shift on-call hospice nurse who had to go into some shady areas a couple of times, and if I had been carjacked at gunpoint, to be honest, I probably would have quit on the spot or my husband would have done it for me. For you to even go back at all shows a great amount of courage and strength--being held up at gunpoint is traumatic and life changing! Tell your supervisor what you are going through. The company is probably thinking that since you went back to work after a couple of days you are just fine (they've never been carjacked at gunpoint). You need to tell them honestly that you are still shaken up and need some time to regroup and feel secure again. If they dismiss this as you just being a wimp, then you work for the wrong company. What you went through was literally life threatening. Again, I'm impressed that you went back at all.

Best of everything to you. Maybe change neighborhoods for a while, if nothing else?

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Aug 25, 2012

I think you need to go out on stress disability for a few weeks and that way you will not have to worry about PTO. I think any doctor would do this and if not see a psychiatrist right away and they will put you out for awhile. Do not feel bad about doing this either. I am sorry this has happened to you. Have you been able to think about what you will do now to protect yourself in the future?

CLUVRN, MSN, RN · Aug 25, 2012

I got verbally (and almost physically attacked) by a patient's neighbor that I was seeing, supposedly because I was speeding in the development they lived in. Very scary indeed, but still not to the level of what you experienced. Being a home health nurse is not for the faint of heart. It is a dangerous job due to the travel/road hazards, going into stranger's homes, and dealing with sometimes difficult and on occasion, very disturbed people. I sometimes contemplate getting out of home health due to the risks of the job, but the benefits in my opinion, far outweigh the risks (I love the autonomy and flexibility). Perhaps seek counseling to talk about your ordeal and to learn ways how to cope with what happened. Best of luck to you.

KateRN1 · Aug 26, 2012

1. Do NOT talk to your supervisor first.

2. Contact the Employee Assistance Program and request an immediate evaluation by a psychiatrist.

3. File a work comp claim if you haven't done so already, contact HR or your employee handbook for where to go.

4. Then talk to your supervisor.

I cannot give our specific legal or medical advice per the TOS of this forum, but in most cases, this is a work-related injury and should be treated as such, just as any other physical injury would be treated. Depending on your state laws, you are likely entitled to treatment and time off through your work comp policy. If you have your own malpractice insurance, you may also need to let them know and may be able to obtain representation through that policy. If you don't have your own, please research available policies and make that investment.

5. If nothing comes through for you via the above, you are still entitled to FMLA leave, although it is not paid.

PM me directly if you need to talk. I haven't been through it myself, thank heaven, but have helped others in similar situations.

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Aug 27, 2012

I have no advice, I'm just really really sorry that happened to you. I'll be praying for you.

84RN · Aug 27, 2012

Follow Kate's advice.

This is a work comp issue, and you should be completely covered for getting treatment and any time off needed. PTSD is a real issue, and this is the result of something that happened while you were working. Good luck and prayers for your healing.