Tonight I received a 23yoM, out drinking and driving, hitting parked cars. He already has 2 felony DUI's on his records.
He fought with fire department on scene (no head injury - he was just a drunk jerk), EMS on scene, police on scene; en route was kicking my medics and the police. He arrives and is still screaming and trying to swing while handcuffed to the cart.
I *tried* my very best to remain calm and therapeutic, but could only tolerate so much of the, "I refuse, you can't touch me, I'm suing you because my dad's a lawyer, and you can't let them take me to jail because I want to go home," while he attempts to swing, swears, and spits. He made mistake number one at that point by grabbing at my hand and squeezing until my hand popped (I filed charge number one at this point).
He smelled so strongly of ETOH it made the eyes water, and of course, he ended up in CT scan.
He fought and carried on over there, getting tazed several times. I ran over and medicated with Haldol and Ativan, but it was like spitting in the wind. Head blocks were gone, c-collar askew, and un-even on the LSB.
For a few minutes he chilled out and I once again explained everything. The CT tech needed his arms above his head, so I explained that I would remain at his side to care for him, and help him hold his arms. He said, "Whatever." (Meanwhile my tech and 5 policemen were on the other side of the glass watching).
I put on the lead, and was helping him hold his arms, and he screamed, "Let go of me you 'effin B*tch!" He then pulled an arm free and punched my chest (mistake number two, and charge number two filed) and face (mistake number three, and charge number three filed).
I lost my cool at that point and completely lost it. I'm ashamed to admit that without thinking, and in order to get away, I punched him very hard and quick 3 times in the chest so he would let go of my other arm (and it worked).
The police were all over him like a cheap suit. I told him that we were done playing the easy way, and he would now be going down the hard road, and told him I was taking him back to the ER to paralyze and intubate him.
He cried all the way back.
I'm just irritated that such a young man is wasting his life an potential and doesn't even care (he could have killed someone!). I'm furious that he thought he had to right to assault me. And I'm even more enraged that I lost my cool and responded the way I did.
You're going to be stronger, as a woman, for this. I responded earlier to your post. Just wanted to say thanks for being strong - I'm only a nursing student, but you are inspiring both as a nurse and a fellow-fem. You take care, now!
"Dear ER manager/charge nurse, I will be unable to care for intoxicated, unruly patients as of this date."
:stone
dont feel bad- its not just where you are at - my workplace has turned my "dementia" unit into a "special care " unit and brought me in 2 alcohol dementia patients who are violent and one who is psychotic and abusive verbally and physically - and another dementia who is violent - we are every night getting kicked hit and bit - the DON gets hit once and they send him out via police on a chapter 51 - and bring him back a few days later. now he and the others still hit us and push us and etc - well - the other day one has me cornered hitting me and another is tearing apart my med cart and med sheets and i yelled down the hall ( and not meanly just loudly and firmly so she would hear and hopefully turn away from the cart - my one aide that wasn't at supper - was in a room and unable to get out immediately at the moment - ) well my administrator heard my voice ( which is quite loud and boisterous anyhow - and heard me raise the voice to say " so and so get away from the cart please - my exact words) and came down to tell me it was unacceptable and would never ever happen again -
i wasn't even mean in tone or anything( i did to bite my tongue to NOT be angry toned with THEM - the powers that be that is though) just loud to be heard above the din of the rest yelling etc - and i get made to feel like the bad guy. and best part is these wonderful powers that be say oh you dont have to yell or yada yad a i have worked down there ( id like to know when - noone has seen em ) and you just need to be calm and soft voiced ( HA - i would LOVE to see them working it for an entire pm shift especially when sundowners get going with the rest lol) - its all over the place - we are to take abuse and take it with glee - hell even the docs and visitors run like heck to get off the unit when they come and say we should get combat pay hahah. oh and by the way - calling out so and so name loudly and firmly, often does cause them to stop ( heading for the door, swinging at someone else or whatever they are doing at the moment giving us just enough time to get there to intercede before they get out the door or hit another resident - but we aren't allowed to do that either) - sometimes it feels like nursing is either a bad joke or a nightmare.
i really love my people i work on - they are like family to me and i would yell out for a family member name if i felt they were heading into something that could be dangerous to them or others so i could get closer to help them - it burns me that we cant do that in a sensible way- i am not saying we should swear or yell meanly at someone for having a disease that impairs their brain - but coe on - how can we protect them if we cant be firm - it feels like it be like letting my kid run out in the street without yelling at them to stop - i just dont get it..... we have one who looks like a train hit her - she falls on her face near every day - why - because we can not hold her arms to keep her from standing and walking (* when she cant stand and walk she stands and falls on her face ) she doesnt belong where we cant do thi - can psych wards use restraints anymore- can they use the old time remedy of haldol im etc - to help these people - these folks are just numbers and heads for our place to say they have em and get money - its sickening cause the resident is really the one who suffers- sure we get a few bruises but they heal - it just kills me that these folks aren't getting the good care they should be cause we cant do anything - sigh - rock and hard place is nursing - sad sad sad
In a extremely concerted effort to not be disrespectful in any way, I will just say that anyone who took measures to protect themselves after having been puched twice in the chest and once in the face IS NOT an assault and batterer, but a VICTIM of assault and battery.
Where I wonder, did this idea come from, that health care individuals have no right to protect THEMSELVES from physical harm inflicted by another individual? Where do you draw the line between getting hit 2,3,4,5 times and getting dead? Several well placed hard punches can knock a person out, and then what? You are at the mercy of someone who obviously did not feel it was wrong to punch you in the first place, you really think it's not a leap that they might not feel its wrong to kill you just because they feel like it?
Not in my world people, I've got three babies to go home to.
This entire line of reasoning has me enraged.
the unfortnate part is many places of employment would say you cant do your job if you pressed charges - i know my place makes us feel that way when we are hit etc - ( umm but the DON gets hit and they call cops go figure) they sure also make one feel like you call anyone and your job could be in jeapordy - not cool.
Deja Vue this sounds like my last 12 hours only my patient was not drunk he was an old drunk that has shot his liver and already had one tips procedure and admitted with an amonia level of 169. I too had the luxury of taking this wild cat to ct scan ...what a trip. I hurt all over now and feel like steve the crocodile guy that has been wrestling alligators all day only to get up in 3 hours to go do it again.
Specializes in OR, OB, EM, Flight, ICU, PACU.......
First, I think you need to stop working with this type of patient. You assaulted and battered a patient, which could very well be felonious. You'd better check with a lawyer ASAP, I think.
Your upset is perfectly understandable. No one should have to deal with this mess. But I am not sure that a nurse has the right to strike a patient. I suppose a case could be made for self-defense.
:down:Trudy, are you freaking kidding me?!If you read the thread, you wouldn't have even been able to ask that question! Everyone has the right to self-defense! I think you should quit wherever you are and move to Boulder, or somewhere in California. Then you could all join hands around the campfire and sing "Kumbaya" while patients physically abuse you.
Specializes in ER/SICU/Med-Surg/Ortho/Trauma/Flight.
:down:Trudy, you cant be serious! I have been an ED nursing supervisor on nights for a long time and I would have done the same thing, if this little monster tried to attack me! Its called the flight or fight reaction! We learned it in physiology class remeber! And not all of us in ER have the pleasure of working corrections with tons of gaurds standing and sitting around on there a$$e$ just waiting for something like this!
And to the op, youll be fine! you just need some time! but I would edit your post like the others said and take out the part about punching him!
No matter what we do there will always be some jack@$$ to call us on it!!
First, stop wasting your time thinking about him. He's made his choices and now he has to live with them.
Second, are you upset that you punched him? Your actions seem reasonable to me since you said that you were trying to get away to prevent him from further assaulting you. How many times do YOU think you should allow yourself to be punched before you become proactive in your safety?
And shame on your ER doc. Any patient that has to be tazered to be CT'd should have immediately been paralyzed and intubated.
You've had a huge adrenaline rush tonight. You're going to think about it a lot. Time will make it better.
When you tell this story at work, leave out the part about punching him. While your peers that have stood there on the line with you understand the dynamics of what happened, there's always going to be that ONE who will put you at fault and try to take your license if they can.
Many times the drunks get intubated for THEIR own safety, I agree, shame on that ER doc.
I'm fine, and doing well. I never got in trouble for anything. I was given an "atta girl" for doing what I had to do to get away from the drunk and prevent myself from being hurt any further.
Our facility places a slightly HIGHER value on the safety of our nurses as opposed to the drunks. Of course, they get the medical care they need (despite their drunken stupor, and combativeness) - and then they get shipped right on over to the pokey to have a nice long visit with the poe-poe.
Thank you for the well wishes and support from the majority of you. And for those that are telling me I should have no right to defend myself - sorry, but I have not and will not give up that right; you, of course, are welcome to let someone beat you to a pulp while you are waiting for someone to come rescue you. For your sake, I hope and pray that does not happen to you.
Everyone has the right to self-defense! I think you should quit wherever you are and move to Boulder, or somewhere in California. Then you could all join hands around the campfire and sing "Kumbaya" while patients physically abuse you..thumb.jpg.6eeb2c01c27cfd151d706238b7f6d6b7.jpg){kind=small}
mauxtav8r
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