Assaulted and written up. (vent)

[JessicRN]

I need to vent. On monday while charging we had 4 ambulances arrive at the same time two really sick and 2 drunk patients. One nurse went to lunch. I was left to triage the 2 drunk patients. When I went to place a gree bracelet on the patient (it is a bracelet we place on pateints who are a fall risk) the pt grabbed my wrist and started to squeeze and would not let go. I yelled for help and noone came. I managed to get my wrist released but sprained it in the process as I was leaving his room I said loudly you do not hit nurses . At this moment the ED medical director was walking by he did not stop to ask what happened he just kept going Although injured I then continued to input the triage note while at the computer I noticed the patient was throwing his urinal and ripping off his ID bracelet. I went back to the outside of his room and again said loudly stay in bed you do not throw things. stood outside the 4 bed room and said loudly you do not throw things. At that momnet the greeter (she is the person who does the mine registering of a pt) came up and said she had a pt with a nose bleed who needed a room I told her to put the pt in rapid assessment room 2 instead of the main ED as there were two nurses located there and no nurse to triage this pt.

The next thing I know the charge nurse comes to me to tell me she is relieving me of charge because of the pt I put in rapid assesment. (she felt I should have put the pt in the main area since I had 7 empty beds and rapid assessment was busy even though they had an empty room and one pt ready for discharge) and 2 nurses.

I was flabergasted I went to the medical director to explain that I had just been assaulted and was not yelling but speaking loudly as I could not go in the room and that I was just in putting a pt who was 5 on the ESI scale in rapid aseesment. He did not ask how I was not did he care he said I was supposed to be a model. I left saying "this is bogus"

and went to the charge nurse. the next thing I know the director is in the room saying you are lucky you are in the union otherwise you would be fired for disrespecting me by turning you back and saying "bull". I tried to tell him I did not say that but he did not care

I was written up for "nonprofessional behavior"

Nothing happened to the patient either he was allowed to walk out 1 hour later. I am left with a sprained wrist and off charge for indefinite time.

So the moral of the story is If a patient hurts you say nothing to the patient do nothing and continue to do your job without stopping

[josh1974, LPN]

Oh my! you "turned your back" on the almighty medical director!? does he/ she think theyre an emporer or something! sounds like a really crappy situation, or a scene from threes company, where mr roper overhears something and takes it outta context! lol. hope everything works out for ya.

[suanna]

The real moral of your story is be thankful you have an organized nursing unit. All the high sounding platitudes in the world don't change the fact that unless the staff nurses stick together and demand respect we are at the mercy of pompous

demi-gods who feel anything short of bowing down and touching our foreheads to the ground whenever they speak is blasphemy- and deserving of whatever punishment they can devise. I will never work for a non-unionized employer.

A great boss can get promoted and stick you with a little Napoleon in the blink of an eye. The only thing that makes them play a fair set of rules is a contract. Just a thought- it sounds like the only thing protecting your job is your contract- that is mighty thin armour. If I were you I'd be looking to bid to another floor until the management changes in your current unit.

[Emergency RN]

When a patient assaults you, call the police to have him or her arrested and charged, immediately demand to be triaged as you yourself were injured; call the nursing supervisor or charge nurse and inform them of your injury and inability to continue working. Then sit down on a gurney and wait to be seen.

The moral of this story is, you're a human being first before you became a nurse. You're entitled to the same respect as your patients.

And yes, like respondent Suanna wrote above; thank God for unions.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

and go to your union!!!!!!!

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

When a patient assaults you, call the police to have him or her arrested and charged, immediately demand to be triaged as you yourself were injured; call the nursing supervisor or charge nurse and inform them of your injury and inability to continue working. Then sit down on a gurney and wait to be seen.

The moral of this story is, you're a human being first before you became a nurse. You're entitled to the same respect as your patients.

And yes, like respondent Suanna wrote above; thank God for unions.

A union rep and a worker's comp claim may make or break them in thier attitude with you also. Granted it may P them off but you must protect yourself and we must start sticking up for ourselves in this profession. I encountered this same attitude in standing up for one of my staff that a dialysis patient jumped out of thier chair, then pushed and shoved my pct into the wall. We were told it was our fault!!! I stood by her, but we are in a non union area Good for you for standing up for your rights. We are nurses, not punching bags.

[aileenve, ASN, RN]

Wow, where was security? when the drunk was uncontrolable security should have been there to help you; secondly; after he injured you, you should have been seen and had an x-ray; if the director walked by I would have said "I have a bad situation here and I need help" and I would document his response...You need to go to your union.

[LovebugLPN]

It really seems like a lot was going on at once and you were really trying to juggle it all. I am sorry you didn't get any support from those around you but I am glad you came here so that if anything like this ever happens again you know how to handle it and by sharing your experience you may have prevented anyone else from going through this.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

When you were written up, did you sign and acknowledge the write up? As a union nurse, you are permitted to have a union representative present and you may dispute the write up. Your medical director should have addressed the situation immediately. Use your union, go on the offensive.

Have you put in a report about your wrist? Document that and get seen.

What happened to you was just awful. Did you ask for help when the patient started getting out of control? I've learned it doesn't work out in our favor when we try to handle things like that solo.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

another reason to pay your union dues and be thankful for the priveledge.

[RNgonewild]

Where's the part that you called your Union Rep and recieved treatment/documented your injury?

[caliotter3]

I did not notify the police and file a report. I did not take myself for medical care after I was assaulted. I waited around for my employer to help me out. How long do you think it took me to figure out that they weren't going to talk to me about the incident or give me any work? The employee must always be proactive. You are lucky to have your union. We voted the union out before I was assaulted. Boy, was I sorry!