Do nurses get away with nurse brutality

[DesiDani]

Nurses like police are supposed to remain calm and professional at all times. What someone sees is a matter of perspective. We can close the curtain, so that 6 person team to give a combative patient handol is not displayed on the news. Or straining someone's grandma to put in a ng tube.

If the public saw what we had to do would we too be accused of brutality?

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

Family is called after the restraints are applied, they are rarely there during the application. If seen do you really think that some of families would not be shocked or upset to the point of filing an complaint.

This is inaccurate.

In the psych ED setting, the patients' parents are often present when restraints (chemical, 4-point, a physical hold, a chair restraint) are applied. Of course they are upset - their loved one is in the midst of a psychotic break.

But I've never had a parent not understand; they're often relieved that their child is finally getting help, that the behaviors they are seeing at home are being seen out in public, that they are finally not alone in this. No complaint has ever been filed.

Again, your sweeping generalizations are just ... questionable at best. Get your facts straight, cite some sources. Not feeding this thread any longer as you are so obviously trying not to be informed (or are deliberately trying to be obtuse).

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

What!?!? Wow just wow?

Yes, if a patient is being violent, I want an armed hospital police officer there. No questions asked. Not saying the patient deserves to be shot--I sincerely hope it does not reach that, and it would be traumatic to me if a patient was shot in "my" ED--but I want that officer there.

[LovingLife123]

Brutality???? Seriously?? What about the brutality thrown at me yesterday as a patient was trying to kick me in the head? That's brutality. Brutality is getting kicked, punched, spit on, and groped on the job. Yet it's perfectly acceptable for a patient to do that to a nurse. It's acceptable to kick a pregnant woman in the stomach.

But me putting an NG down grandma to keep her from aspirating and dying is brutal? Are you kidding?

By the way, I didn't think you were a nurse.

[MunoRN, RN]

Nurse abuse is not an excuse to justify patient abuse. Even if the nurse feels threatened and she rightly calls the guards, that nurse shouldnt stand by if the guard gets too violent. Just saying he was protecting me because the patient didn't let me put in an iv is not an excuse.

It is a matter of perspective. A family member isn't going to care about you getting, only that their loved ones got hurt under your care.

At my job we have to take semi annual desculation training. They say you always have to be aware of your actions, because it may be perceived as abusive.

The evidence is pretty clear that nurses are far too often on the receiving end of physical violence, incidents of truly unjustified physical intervention are relatively rare.

There is unfortunately a view that violence against nurses is somewhat justified because of a perception that nurses are often violent towards patients, which you seem to be perpetuating, and that's not really acceptable

[DesiDani]

Brutality???? Seriously?? What about the brutality thrown at me yesterday as a patient was trying to kick me in the head? That's brutality. Brutality is getting kicked, punched, spit on, and groped on the job. Yet it's perfectly acceptable for a patient to do that to a nurse. It's acceptable to kick a pregnant woman in the stomach.

But me putting an NG down grandma to keep her from aspirating and dying is brutal? Are you kidding?

By the way, I didn't think you were a nurse.

The hospital doesn't revolve around ER. You're telling me that ALL people are agreeable as to how someone is restrained?

My post is asking if nurses get away brutality? I believe a few do, yet most people take it as an attack on them. Some nurses aren't angels and are abusive, you take offense perhaps look in the mirror.

I'm not going to be naive and assume All nurse's actions can be defended. Even in ER staff can cross the line, it happens and it is not rarity. Wonder why we have to take classes on it every year.

Own it

[DesiDani]

Loving life, insults brush off. I'm aware of PROFESSIONAL rns like you. And yes if someone saw that they MAY be upset.

[vanilla bean]

The hospital doesn't revolve around ER. You're telling me that ALL people are agreeable as to how someone is restrained?

My post is asking if nurses get away brutality? I believe a few do, yet most people take it as an attack on them. Some nurses aren't angels and are abusive, you take offense perhaps look in the mirror.

I'm not going to be naive and assume All nurse's actions can be defended. Even in ER staff can cross the line, it happens and it is not rarity. Wonder why we have to take classes on it every year.

Own it

This thread has officially jumped the shark.

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

I don't even understand what this thread is about.

[vanilla bean]

I don't even understand what this thread is about.

Neither does the OP.

[audreysmagic, RN]

I'm not feeding it anymore.

A wise choice...

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

Yes, if a patient is being violent, I want an armed hospital police officer there. No questions asked. Not saying the patient deserves to be shot--I sincerely hope it does not reach that, and it would be traumatic to me if a patient was shot in "my" ED--but I want that officer there.

Me too! I used to work for a public hospital smack dab in the center of meth central. Our security were tops. The fact that they only hired former/retired military or law enforcement, and that the facility paid them more than any PD in the area (and that included state police) helped: They got the cream of the crop. Like I said, they were top notch and were trained extensively on how to deescalate problems. And in the 23 years that this facility has had armed security, no person has been shot by security. I hope that that record continues.

[cardiacfreak, ADN]

The hospital doesn't revolve around ER. You're telling me that ALL people are agreeable as to how someone is restrained?

My post is asking if nurses get away brutality? I believe a few do, yet most people take it as an attack on them. Some nurses aren't angels and are abusive, you take offense perhaps look in the mirror.

I'm not going to be naive and assume All nurse's actions can be defended. Even in ER staff can cross the line, it happens and it is not rarity. Wonder why we have to take classes on it every year.

Own it

I have never worked ER, but on the floors, even ICU, a doctors ORDER is required for restraints. Sometimes depending on the situation more than one or two people are needed to assist with restraining someone from harming themself OR others. The key word is HARMING.

What is your purpose for this post? There is a nursing board in every state that can and has suspended and terminated license for actions unbecoming of our profession. In rare instances obviously some nurses have crossed the line, but I don't believe that it is a common occurrence.

If you feel that someone is being abusive you need to report it to your supervisor, otherwise you are part of the brutality.