Do you arrest abusive patients?

nowplayingEDRN · Apr 6, 2004

We are having a debate on and off about whether or not to arrest someone who is abusive in the ED.
Not someone who has assaulted a staff memeber...that's a "no brainer"...bye bye my friend...enjoy your new wardrobe of orange!
I'm talking about those who threaten you or are verbally abusive.
I realize that we would be filling up the jail cells...but the PD should have plenty of room...since they bring IN all those drunks who are "Too drunk to go to jail" anyway...
I'm not sure if it's worth it or not.
Any thoughts...

What we end up doing is calling hospital security, then the nursing supervisor and then the police to escort them from the facility. We do not sit there and subject our selves to verbal abuse but professionally let the pt know that we are there to help them and that their behavior is unacceptable and that no one is making them stay here and they can leave anytime (unless of course it's a ETOH/Drug abuse pt brought in by the police in which case we tell them that we would be happy to call the police to come and take them to jail if they are that unhappy with out service and assistance). Usually it works quite well. But that is just the routine in a small local hospital located at the corner of 3 states.

veetach · Apr 7, 2004

What we end up doing is calling hospital security, then the nursing supervisor and then the police to escort them from the facility. We do not sit there and subject our selves to verbal abuse but professionally let the pt know that we are there to help them and that their behavior is unacceptable and that no one is making them stay here and they can leave anytime (unless of course it's a ETOH/Drug abuse pt brought in by the police in which case we tell them that we would be happy to call the police to come and take them to jail if they are that unhappy with out service and assistance). Usually it works quite well. But that is just the routine in a small local hospital located at the corner of 3 states.

we can usually handle what we get in. But sometimes you have that one who is just out of control. If the patient threatens a staff member, we call the police. It is our hospital policy. If they get mouthy, we threaten them with calling the police and we usually have a cop somewhere in the ED so they come by and "suggest" that the patient calm down, sometimes this works too.

our hospital security is very weak and NOT intimidating.

RNin92 · Apr 7, 2004

we can usually handle what we get in. But sometimes you have that one who is just out of control. If the patient threatens a staff member, we call the police. It is our hospital policy. If they get mouthy, we threaten them with calling the police and we usually have a cop somewhere in the ED so they come by and "suggest" that the patient calm down, sometimes this works too.
our hospital security is very weak and NOT intimidating.

Yea...it is pretty much the same here. A couple of our guards are big guys...but the rest...

I guess we are just getting pretty frustrated with the abusive foul-mouthed yahoos that we are forced to put up with!

I don't care about the true psychs...they have no control.

But the drunks and the jerks...it just makes me crazy.

Talk about violence in the workplace!!

Katnip, RN · Apr 7, 2004

We have one security officer who uses a walker.

veetach · Apr 7, 2004

We have one security officer who uses a walker.

OMG!!! that is hysterical!! LOLOL :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Repat · Apr 7, 2004

We have had problems with people de-toxing. We call security, and that generally gets their attention. We had one guy, though, who just wouldn't quit. Finally, he dialed 911 from his room. One of the docs called the police and d/c'ed him, AMA!

RNin92 · Apr 7, 2004

We have one security officer who uses a walker.

That is just tooooooo funny!!!

:rotfl:

obeyacts2 · Apr 7, 2004

We have one security officer who uses a walker.

My Dh used to be a hospital security guard, in an big city ER, and he is a big guy but scared to death of blood and needles :chuckle His biggest "arrest" was catching two employees having sex on the job. :rotfl:

Laura

boggle, ASN, RN · Apr 7, 2004

We have one security officer who uses a walker.

:rotfl:

Tell me does he have his night stick and walkie talkie in a little basket in front?

Hospital Security is one job I can't imagine being walker-user friendly.

Shed13911 · Apr 8, 2004

Can you imagine being the patient and when you are threatened with security, he comes in with a walker? The patient would probably laugh himself happy again! That sure would be a hysterical picture if you can just imagine!!! :rotfl: :uhoh3:

RNin92 · Apr 8, 2004

Well, at least he has a weapon!!!

:chuckle :chuckle