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

Nurses Safety

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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.

Specializes in ED; Med Surg.

This also brings up the question...what if they are elderly, have dementia and are violent. An assault is an assault no matter what age they are. We can't sedate them properly or restrain them properly because it is against their rights, but they are free to hit and scratch and bite and yell...sometimes very successfully and painfully. I'm not saying I think we should drug them and tie them down but what is the answer?

Specializes in Cardiac, Neuro, Progressive Care.

That's a valid question. All of you have given such great input. I need to collate it in my email to my Director. This incident brought up so many issues like nurses' rights, workplace safety, patients' rights, self defense, protocols for violence in the workplace, legal boundaries, etc. It's a lot to take in and iron out.

Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

How absolutely terrifying for you to be assaulted from behind with no warning.

Shame on your coworkers for not sending you home. I agree with the above posters that you need to take some time off, get some therapy, and press charges if it at all appropriate in your situation.

I was assaulted at work once by a traumatic brain-injured patient on an acute physical rehab floor. I saw it coming, just couldn't get out of the way fast enough. I didn't press charges, but in my case it would not have done this poor patient any good as he had the cognitive function of a 3 year old.

Sounds like are taking some baby steps (for now) to turn a really rotten situation into some possible positive changes for your facility. Kudos to you. Best of luck, and please keep us posted on how you are doing.

Specializes in kids.

This is MOST DEFINITLY a worker comp case and you need to seek out the support!!! HR needs to be involved and supporting you. You may need follwup counseling as well for yourself and your husband if he isn't "getting it". Ihope that you can take thetime you need to heal. ((Hugs))

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
This also brings up the question...what if they are elderly, have dementia and are violent. An assault is an assault no matter what age they are. We can't sedate them properly or restrain them properly because it is against their rights, but they are free to hit and scratch and bite and yell...sometimes very successfully and painfully. I'm not saying I think we should drug them and tie them down but what is the answer?

I suppose it depends on the setting...in LTC you're pretty limited, but on my unit if the pt is kicking they get their ankles restrained. Maybe apply mitts during cares to keep them from scratching or grabbing, and remove them when you're done?

That said, there's a big, big difference between a LOL with dementia who swats at staff, and someone who brutally attacks staff. We've probably all been swatted at by someone w/ dementia. Things like the OP's attack, or that story in the Nursing News forum about the nurse who suffered head trauma from the pt stomping on it...that is criminal.

Would it even be a question if the same person did the same thing to a law enforcement officer? They'd (I believe) get an elevated charge.

I am sorry you went through this to only find little support from family and your employer. You shouldn't have been made to do any work after this was done to you. You should have been sent immediately to the ER with the police called. Kudos to you for trying to find a way to improve your facility. I would still consider filing a report. You need to seek counseling and find support from friends. If nothing else know that here on AN we support you and are always willing to listen. Good luck to you.

Specializes in Cardiac, Neuro, Progressive Care.

I am very grateful to all of you.

Yes, I agree if this happened to a police officer, it would be different. Why, it would be soooooooooo different if a patient family member was choked by a wandering disoriented patient. That would have been an ugly lawsuit.

To be fair, it was I who suggested I should go bac to work and regain a sense of normalcy. Admittedly, I have been underestimating and undermining and minimizing what I went through. I thought I would be fine...

It's true what patients say about nurses, there's no price for what we do for patients. The things we go through!

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

You need to talk with someone professional. You were attacked. Plain and simple. Viciously attacked. Allow yourself time to heal. To deal with this trauma. Find a support group. I am so sorry this happened to you

I believe this is PTSD. Panick attacks can really get out of control you need to be seeing a Psychologist who works with PTSD pts and they will give you tools to start to get this under control. I agree with pp that a simple and effective self defense class will also help you to take your power back and to feel a little safer. If your not receiving talk therapy yet, please do not delay in getting this valuable help.

Blessings

Yes, this sounds like PTSD. There is help

I won't pretend I read all the responses here. I have been choked by someone I never considered a danger. This goes beyond physical danger; it is a psychological wound. Like any wound, careful -- and vigilant -- management is required for healing to take place. Take care of yourself. Doing so determines your future health. HUGE HUGS!!!!!

I was not able to even begin to decompress from my situation until I moved away. Remaining in the immediate area leaves one vulnerable to more of the same, and expecting appropriate behavior from the employer only brings "blame the victim" discrimination. At least that was what happened to me. Hope you recover in your own time, not that dictated by others.

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