Creepy!!!!!!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I had a male patient tonight whom I have taken care of for 2 nights now. He continuously says very lude remarks, and when I was bent over administering an IV med he started rubbing my back, telling me he had a crush on me and how his wife and him were over so him and I could date now. As if! The entire night he would find excuse after excuse, even going so far as to tug his IV out so I would have to go in and spend time with him to replace it, could come up with a million and one tasks that involved me bending over in front of him. How degrading and humiliating! I so wanted to tell him where to stick his totally unwelcome advances, however, this hospital as with many others thinks the patient is always right, even when you are being sexually harassed and degraded. How can I handle it tactfully, I pray he is discharged but I just do not have that kind of luck.:(

Huggietoes, you are being sexually harrassed, and you most emphatically DO NOT have to tolerate this treatment. Complete an occurrence screen, go to your supervisor and report the behavior. Do not accept being assigned to this individual again. If your supervisor does not take your statements seriously, go to HIS/HER supervisor. Behave calmly and professionally at all times, reporting only the facts. "The patient stated, 'I have a crush on you...'" "The patient placed his hand upon my back..." No one, male or female, 18 or 80 who is in healthcare has to submit to sexual harrassment. JeannieM

I certainly agree with all the above advice!

I would also complete an incident report [ i seem to continuely say this] In the UK an incidnet report is used for ANY occurence out of the norm even sexual harrassment

Many years ago as a newby was constantly harrassed:( One particular guy grabbed me one too many times but of course apologising each time.

I picked up his water jug and accidently tipped it over him, in a loud voice I said

" Sorry I fell over your slippers":D

1.5L doesn't half make a mess:cool:

j:kiss

Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

researchrabbit, YES, YES, the MOM voice! I jokingly threaten some pts w/it (those who "get it," and who are OK w/a light-hearted approach) if they get outta line.

Agree with all of the above. You don't have to put up with it. And patients acting out need to be told they are behaving inappropriately, that you do not have to tolerate his behavior just as if he or a doc was yelling at you. Politely tell him you'll return to finish his care when he can behave.

And be sure to let your manager and supervisor know this has happened, even if it was only once.

Specializes in ER, ICU, Corrections.

I have it really easy at the place that I work...if my patients make advances towards me and NO doesn't work, then we write them up and most of the time they go to Segregation and it usually cools thier jets. :p If that doesn't stop it, we have security have a little talk with them..and if that doesn't stop him they send them to another prison... But if you get them in Segregation for enough time, that usually puts a stop to their advances. :devil: :chuckle ;)

Specializes in correctional, psych, ICU, CCU, ER.

I'm SO glad I work in a jail. (Plus, I'm old) But when I was young

Forget tact!!! I had one patient pull this type of crap and told him it was inappropriate and if he couldn't control himself I would get him another nurse. That was about a week before I got a job in OB and left all those freaks behind.

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Howdy yall

from deep in the heat of texas

Speak softly and carry a 4 iron

FORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

doo wah ditty

Lots of great advice here--I have nothing to add. I wanted to ask everyone a question, though--how many of you have been the subject of inappropriate remarks (or behavior) from patient's visitors and how did you handle it?

I used to get this all the time in ICU: visitor (male OR female)would nudge (male) patient and say, "Well, at least you got yourself a cute nurse!" or "You sure got a purty one today, hyuk hyuk hyuk!" I was honestly stumped whenever this happened and could never muster a response other than a weak, pained smile. My coworkers and I used to discuss it--we all felt it was degrading and completely belittled our education and skills, not to mention undermining the professional relationship--but they never had a good response either.

What do YOU do?

Specializes in CVOR,CNOR,NEURO,TRAUMA,TRANSPLANTS.

Im thinking a 14 guage IV at the base of his thumb for sure , a possible rectal tube and a 22 foley without the nice ky jelly. I would inform the supervisor of the advances and also request a different assignment, and if" Sparky" kept it up , well I would have to call the House supervisor if things didnt change. Remember keep yourself covered this person can easily say it was you that was advancing , and trust they will look at you before they will look at him, because after all he is "sick".

Zoe

OB is not always a guarantee of avoiding creeps like that. It is amazing how many Dads (husbands,boyfriends "fiancees") would pull crap like that. Some would even do it right in the labor rooms. Guess they figuired their wives were to distracted giving birth to notice.

What about the honest, blunt approach? " Your attentions are unwelcome and make me uncomfortable. Sexual advances are unacceptable in a professional relationship." I was actually "caught" saying this to a patient by my clinical instructor my last semester. She had me do a peer teaching-learning demonstration, she liked it so much. I don't mean to offend, but some of the responses sound like the old "female, passive" voice. What is wrong with stating, with force, EXACTLY what is acceptable behavior. If a male was the foucs of unwelcome advances he would not hesitate to make sure his message to back off was received. I hope no one takes offence. I guess you can tell I got an "A" in the "Assertiveness" class. ;)

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