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
Don't forget to apply for disability, how can you work in an ER with a sprained wrist, it would be great to stay home for a while at their expense due to their negligence and bad treatment of their staff
Specializes in ER, Trauma, ICU/CCU/NICU, EMS, Transport.
Don't forget to apply for disability, how can you work in an ER with a sprained wrist, it would be great to stay home for a while at their expense due to their negligence and bad treatment of their staff
What the heck?
Disability for a sprained wrist?
I'm giving this author (Divine Intervention) one chance to reply publicly and post that this was said in jest or joking.
If I don't see a reply stating this, then I'm going to assume it's serious and I will then post my comment to this.
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.
Excellent advice Emergency RN, I could not agree more. We are not here to be abused and limits must be set and maintained. As you say we are human beings first and this sole fact gets lost in the process. The caliber of the medical director is not only obvious but all too frequent in our line of work, all the more reason for solidarity within the profession. Remember there are no mistakes just learning opportunities. Never let a crisis go to waste...each time something along these lines has happened to me over the years it has always inspired me to go back to school. Something to think about at least. You are not alone.
I'm giving this author (Divine Intervention) one chance to reply publicly and post that this was said in jest or joking.
If I don't see a reply stating this, then I'm going to assume it's serious and I will then post my comment to this.
-Mark B.
I am going to venture a guess that the disability thing is that the OP would likely need more than a couple of days off for a truly sprained wrist. Where I am, anything that goes beyond missing 3 scheduled days (or 24 hours, so 2 days for 12 hour shifters like me!) then bounces to short term disability. I have used it twice just this YEAR, the first for a tibial stress fx that put me out two months (was not work-related so they could not accomodate light duty) and then for influenza complicated by pneumonia that took me off the schedule for 2 weeks. Neither was a "true" disability, really, but did impede my ability to fully function on the job and therefore I received short term disability pay until I was back to baseline. Just a thought?
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.
Perfectly stated and excellent advice. Anyone that is assaulted should follow this advice to a T. You should press charges, get examined immediately, and contact your union rep NOW. I'm sorry this happened to you.
I do feel for the OP as none of us should be assaulted on the job. I don't, however, agree with the way she handeled the situation. When the director walked by OP should of made a point to tell him what just took place instead of hoping he would overhear her correcting the pt for his behavior. OP should also have stopped immediatly to write an incident report and get medical care. I do hope we all learn from reading this post what the correct way to handle a situation like this should be. OP I hope it is not too late for you to correct this situation and get the help in which you are intitled.
where is the OP? i want to hear what happened when she got the union involved......i wouldnt be surprised if part of the reason for the write up was to deflect the injury claim.....
Here in Georgia I have a simple solution for violent patients. I swear out a warrant on the patient for assault, and he leaves my ED in cuffs. Assault on an Emergency Care Worker is a felony here. As for the Director.... what can I say? Peter Principle maybe? It's why I like night shift... no bosses like to stay up all night.
Assuming everything in the post is correct, that was a bogus write-up. You should certainly file a grievance with your union. You might also lodge a complaint with OSHA for failure to maintain a safe work environment. An employer has an affirmative duty to provide a safe work environment. In fact, if the management heard you yelling and did nothing, you might even have a law suit. Normally, a person isn't required to help another person in trouble, but the employer might have had a duty to do so. Technically, it's also illegal for them to tell you that they would fire you if you were not in a union.
Sorry guys I have been off the week and out of computer range
Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. I spoke to another union rep and still awaiting the decision they said they have heard nothing. I got a call the day after saying I was being written up but so far nothing. I am however off charge even though again nothing has been said.
I had to wear a cockup splint on my wrist so was off my wrist is better.
I have spoken with my rep and it has been decided I sign nothing and grieve everything if it goes near my file.
I am afraid to go to work tomorrow as the doctor will be on and he is working the night shift with me.
I am seriously thinking of grieving the nurse who ran to the Unit manager saying I was writing up other nurses when what I wrote was an ncident report on the incident only. Unfortunately, the unit manager would not tell who accused me although by rights I have the right to face my accuser.
I do not want to came back to work as I truly know noone has my back and now I feel unsafe
You do know that assaulting a healthcare worker is a FELONY? Wonder if the hospital could be held as an accesory since you obviously didn't have enough people working to handle the situation? (I really doubt it, but it sure sounds good doesn't it?)
As for the Director.... what can I say? Peter Principle maybe? It's why I like night shift... no bosses like to stay up all night.
Should be, though.
Divine intervention
11 Posts
Don't forget to apply for disability, how can you work in an ER with a sprained wrist, it would be great to stay home for a while at their expense due to their negligence and bad treatment of their staff