Choked by a patient. How do you deal with this trauma?

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Specializes in Cardiac, Neuro, Progressive Care.

I was all alone in this hallway around 4am, charting on a computer- when out of the blue, somebody tried to choke me from behind. As I tried to twist free from him while screaming my lungs out, I saw that it was a patient. Amidst the fear and horror I felt, I somehow was thinking, "He's a patient. I MUST NOT HURT HIM." I pried his hands off my neck but he went for my hair & wouldn't let go. By then staff members arrived to help me.

My new admission arrived a few minutes after. So I had to suppress everything and carried on. After settling the patient, I was brought to our ED for assessment. But I was a crying mess as soon as I got to the car.

It has been 4 days & I thougt I was okay til I see men walking on the street who look like him, then I feel palpitations and fear, even if my conscious mind thinks it cannot be him.

Has anybody been physically assaulted by a patient before, whether yours or another nurse's? How did you recover from this? How did your management handle it? Did law enforcement get involved? Do some hospitals still exist out there wherein they discouraged getting police involved? How did your family/ co-workers take it? What are our rights as nurses under duress?

Mostly, I need your help to heal from it emotionally & psychologically. I feel weak & silly for reacting this way, but I'm still scared of going back to work. Thank you.

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Yes, have been assaulted. I also responded with " I must fulfill my nursing duties". I finished my shift ,while pulling out hunks of bloody hair and limping from being ground down to the floor.

This was in a psychiatric hospital, so the "rules" may be different.

You were seen in the ER and assessed. That is a good thing. Your assault is documented.

Feeling "weak and silly" is minimizing your experience. Please rethink that.

You require immediate psychological treatment for that assault. Including paid time off for that treatment.

You can.. and will work through this with the right guidance.

Good luck,feel free to PM me.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Hugs!! This hasn't happened to me, but I agree that you should talk to someone. You were attacked, same as if it had happened on the street. And yes, I would involve law enforcement. Being sick doesn't give someone a free pass to assault people.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Neuro, Progressive Care.

Thank you for reaching out. I will do that.

My husband does not understand what's happening to me. I don't understand it myself. It's an abhorring feeling to feel afraid even when the situation is over. I don't know when it will be truly over in my head.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

OMG! ((HUGS)) you poor thing. What a horrible thing to go through.

YOU have been assaulted...what the heck was this guy's problem? Were the police called? Patient or not I would have taken him down. You do not need to be attacked like that. How horrible!!!!

You have been trough something traumatic. You need to be debriefed. Talk to EAP or your employee health. What does your boss have to say? Where was the supervisor? Why were you not releaved of duty and sent home?

Tell your husband that it would be the same if you were attacked on the street and strangled from behind.

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This is a work comp injury issue and they should pay your time while you are out. You have documented your assault. Now tell employee health you are taking leave time due to it, get a good therapist referred from the EAP, the local med school, the chief social worker, or other trusted source, and do what the therapist tells you. And I agree with the above poster who said to stop minimizing your feelings-- this way lies, well, madness. You can heal from this, but treatment by a pro is the way to do it, and it will help your husband too...

{222mom222}

(a gentle hug in case touch is creepy to you)

(it will get better)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I have been physically attacked on my way to work-no, not a pt, but traumatic nonetheless; it took me six years to walk on that street again, got the courage to do it weeks ago.

I am sure you want to return to work; for the sake of your peace of mind, seek professional help ASAP, press charges, get workers comp, do whatever you need; don't shy away or feel silly, there is no need to.

Sending positive vibes in your healing.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Neuro, Progressive Care.

Thank you, all. Thank you so much. I feel like I'm all alone in this.

I don't know what his diagnosis was, he wasn't my patient. The bed alarm was not on so I didn't hear him coming until it was far too late. No, the police was not called, only security. Nursing supervisor was there, she accompanied me to the ED. I still had a new admission after that choking incident. I still stayed to chart and finish cause I had Core Measure patients.. Then I was an emotional mess when I got in the car & it finally hit me that it really happened, it wasn't a bad dream.

At least 7 people came when they heard me scream- techs, nurses, a doctor. Nobody thought to call the police, including myself. Looking back,, we should have while the marks on my neck was fresh.

He would have been off me sooner, had I not hesitated out of consideration that he was in a gown and I was in scrubs.

I thought at the time that it would soon be erased when the sun comes up. But it's didn't. It hasn't.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

I'm sorry this happened to you.

Even though you didn't file a police report, you still can. You don't lose any of your rights to protection under the law just because he was a patient. You can always file and decide later if you choose to pursue this, but if you don't file soon you may not be able to do so down the road.

This was a serious event, and it will take you awhile to get over it. You were at work, caring for the ill, when one of them unexpectedly viciously attacked. You may experience a lot of different feelings over the next few weeks. It's important you take care of yourself. Be sure you talk to someone.

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Do you think taking a self defense class might help you feel a little safer? I know it can't erase what happened, but maybe you would have a few tricks up your sleeve to fight back next time. ..patient or not.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

In my state, it is a felony to assault a health care provider or first responder. There would be no option - it must be reported & the patient would be arrested/charged.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Even though you didn't file a police report, you still can. You don't lose any of your rights to protection under the law just because he was a patient. You can always file and decide later if you choose to pursue this, but if you don't file soon you may not be able to do so down the road.

^^^ This. The marks may no longer be fresh, but you know who your attacker is, and you had at least 7 witnesses.

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