Well, I got a nice human bite last night. Broke the skin and
everything. Allow me to set the scene for you:
It's 10:15pm on Sunday eve and I am at the end of my weekend double double(sat and sun 7a-11p--yes I do this every weekend). I was feeling pretty good. I had a great weekend and I was ready to go home! I was done with all my work(had been desk nurse for 3-11) and I was asking around if anyone needed help. All the other nurses were done and they were charting. So, a CNA says to me, "Can you help me change Mrs. X". I said "Sure":) Mrs. X is a nice LOL who is confused and does not like to be changed. This is absolutely a 2 person job. So we start to get her cleaned up and she is doing her usual calling out and carrying on(she is not in pain, she just always yells when getting cleaned up) and out of the blue, she bites me.
Now, this was a very good bite. My arm has a gigantic bruise. She drew blood.
So, I had to go to the ER, I got home at 3:30am. I have to go to OCC Health today and I am on Augmentin.
I guess it's time to write a new care plan for Mrs. X.
Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.
Make sure that you follow up closely with that human bite. Many facilities hospitalize the person with a round of IV antibiotics. And make sure that you fill out every form possible about a work-related injury.
Agreed Human Bites are nasty nasty nasty!! Watch that arm like a hawk. If you see any increased redness or feelings of unwellness you yell out to the doctor. Take care
So sorry your arm was in the wrong place at the right time for that little biddy
I have been bitten in the past month twice!! No one else gets bitten. My co-workers say I must be tasty!!!! lol. Thank God, the bites didnt break my skin!!
Gotta love being a nurse!!! They dont tell ya these things in school....
I still have a scar on my forearm from those long dirty fingernails you described, yuck.We tried to cut them but that was almost abusing her by the time we actually got a hold of her hands.
I had a male patient a few years ago who would put up a fight when it came to cleaning him up time! Well he would continuously kick and swing his arms and yell cuss words and threaten to bite one of us (it always took two or more to clean this guy up) Well one night after several months of this ongoing battle with this man I noticed that his teeth were out (usually they were in and removing them for cleaning was another fighting issue) I said "Mr. so and so how are planning on biting us with no teeth in" and this patient stopped and began laughing his self to the point of tears! From that day on we just asked him if he was planning on biting us before or after his care. And the changing went smooth after that. Human bites are very serious though and I hope that you are okay.
Hope all goes well with that bite-yeeouch! I am considering an RN position in LTC with the same hours as yours- two 16 hour shifts....any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated (I have worked in acute care for a year, will be new to LTC)...
Sabby_NC
983 Posts
Agreed Human Bites are nasty nasty nasty!! Watch that arm like a hawk. If you see any increased redness or feelings of unwellness you yell out to the doctor. Take care
So sorry your arm was in the wrong place at the right time for that little biddy