Frequency of Being Cursed At or Threatened

[Music in My Heart]

I'm looking for some perspective since my present gig is the only large, urban ED in which I've worked.

It seems that most shifts include at least one episode in which curses and or threats are directed at me or one of my nearby colleagues.

It's become so common that I think I've come to consider it a normal and expected event... and one which seems to be tolerated by the organization.

I'm just wondering how often others are experiencing these incidents. I don't know if it's just the reality of a large ED or if it's unique in some way to my workplace or others like it.

I just find it wearing and many of my colleagues are expressing frustration at the perception that the organization does not support us or recognize the unique circumstances under which we work.

[BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

I work in a 68 bed Level I trauma ED. I am swore at probably every shift I work. I have to involve security for violence at least once a week. We coddle these pts for the most part,...it looks bad to the other patients and family members for us to defend ourselves. If someone at triage throws a fit, swears, throws things etc, they get a room. It doesn't matter if this is their 3rd visit this week or even their second visit this shift,...we reinforce this bad behavior and rush those people back ahead of sick patients,.....it makes me sick to my stomach,...but what can we do?

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Call the police. Press charges for assault and disorderly conduct.

As a group, insist on 24 hour police presence in the ER.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Yeah....that is a good idea however many facilities do not want a police presence in the ED. It is not the urban centers that make me angry for they have no issue calling the police or have police as security. It is the suburban centers that have busy department bordering on the "tougher" communities who will do ANYTHING to keep the appearance that their facility is "safe" and the atmosphere "delightful".

I have witnessed this in person to a friend. It was also a union facility. She was attacked by a patient while she was dc'ing his heploc...he grabbed her crotch so hard her ripped her undergarments...she was married to a local police officer. The subterfuge that took place trying to sweep it under the rug and blame the nurse...then harass her into eventually leaving is not OK

Massachusetts Nurses Association - Health & Safety - Articles - Workplace Violence - Emergency room violence growing concern for nurses

Massachusetts Nurses Association - Health & Safety - Articles - Workplace Violence - Emergency room violence growing concern for nurses

In her own words: How ER assault has changed RN Charlene Richardson's life, work

04.15.2005

From the Massachusetts Nurse Newsletter (it is public)

April 2005 Edition

By Charlene Richardson, RN

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[TD]RN Charlene Richardson at an MNA workshop on violence held last October listens to keynote speaker District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.[/TD]

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Since the story of my March 2003 indecent assault was published in The Salem News, I have been overwhelmed by the public response and the questions I have been asked in regards to this incident. Most people are quick to say they are impressed with the article, yet wondered after reading it how this incident has impacted me and affected my life both personally and professionally.

read her story....use the links. (If you are here....thinking of you gal! Happy New Year!

SOME emergency Departments, with the assistance of the ENA, have been able enact legislation making the assaults criminal and in some cases a felony...however these legislation's seldom assist the floor nurses...where is the ANA on this subject? Instead of talking about nursing being the most trusted profession or How the nursing shortage affect patients (what shortage...they mean lack of hiring)...they should be lobbying for laws that protect the nurses.

However...then you need to get the hospitals on board to allow the staff to call the police.

I worked at one facility that had FREQUENT violent episodes in the ED and a mandate was handed from administration that "You MAY NOT call the police for assistance until cleared by the ED director or Senior Administration."

I wonder if they wanted me to wait to call the police when the guy came into the ED and said he was homicidal and suicidal who stated he had a hand grenade in his backpack in the waiting room....hummmm.

Call the police. Press charges for assault and disorderly conduct.

As a group, insist on 24 hour police presence in the ER.

Having the police arrive rarely changes much. If the patient isn't medically cleared then they won't be escorted off premises nor be arrested. Even if they are arrested, they are typically released within a few hours because of jail overcrowding. Regardless of whether I want to press charges, the DA is the one who determines whether a case will be prosecuted and, short of serious assault and battery, they won't.

Regardless, I'm not so much referring to the cases of assault but to the verbal assaults that take place so regularly, for which the hospital has a zero-tolerance policy... except, it seems, in the ED.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Urban ED in the 'hood ...

I responded to the poll with "occasionally", though I have trouble quantifying just how often this occurs. We have physical security measures in place, physically capable security staff in the department 24/7, a willingness to call police if needed, and quick response time from the nearest police precinct.

So while verbal and physical shenanigans do occur with some regularity, we do get mileage from the obvious deterrents, and the fact that it's far preferable to interact with us than with local law enforcement.

For the most part, we have management backup.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I havent been cursed at once since I started my new job and left the level I ER where I got cussed at almost daily. Many of my also new coworkers also have noticed this change compared to other places.

I believe part is the location change and part is that the hospital wants a nice environment for staff and nurses. The expectation has set the rule, it just doesnt happen save for the occasional psychotic.

The other plus is that ive never had so many thank yous and positive patient card comments. Its nice to hear my patients like the job we are doing.

Lastly, most od our staff are happy, they are positive and I think the patients can feel that.

I had a family member yesterday say they felt like they have never been so well treated in an ER before even though their family member was stuck in a hallway for their entire evaluation.

Its a nice change of scenery, although I'm probably going to help tackle the first psych patient ....because well its a skill I've learned well and id hate to lose it.

I havent been cursed at once since I started my new job and left the level I ER where I got cussed at almost daily.

The other plus is that ive never had so many thank yous and positive patient card comments.

Lastly, most of our staff are happy, they are positive and I think the patients can feel that.

Sounds like a nice place.

When compared to your former position, how much of the difference do you attribute to difference in clientele, management attitude, and the characteristics of your coworkers?

For me, having worked only in one full-service ER, I just wonder how much of what I experience (and dislike) is inherent in the work and how much is a reflection of the institutional characteristics.

although I'm probably going to help tackle the first psych patient ....because well its a skill I've learned well and id hate to lose it.

You never want to lose hard-won skills ;=}

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I think a big percentage is clientele. One drunk guy started acting out and other patients quickly yelled at him and calmed him down enough to where he was embarrassed to have acted out. It was kind of funny.

Other coworkers from local hospitals have said the same thing regarding the lack of verbal abuse. Ive been there such a short time hard for me to comment on management as our interactions are few. We dont have dedicated charge nurses. Our Internal triage nurse runs the show and because they are one of us, I think there is more support.

[caliotter3]

My venue is extended care home health and not the ED, so a different perspective all the way around. Cursing and outright altercations do not happen often, but threats are very common. They are usually stated as a matter of fact, and may or may not have some level of subtlety attached. Far too many clients seem to enjoy letting the home care nurse know that they can, and will, get rid of her/him at any time. The agency goes along with caving in to their every whim because nurses are a nickel a dozen. This is one of the more prevalent reasons for not fully enjoying work in this area of nursing.