Why Nursing staff harm thier charges??

[gentlegiver]

Can someone please tell me what would make people harm the patients placed in thier care?? I keep reading about Nurses and CNAs and other staff abusing, neglecting and even killing thier charges. I don't understand why they feel the need to do this. Yes, I take care of patients who are abusive to staff, some are aware of what they are doing others are not. Still I would never knowingly or willingly do harm to any of them.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

If you observe abuse of any kind to a resident, you are required by law in many states to report it to the agency designated in the law. You need to check it out if you are aware of this going on now. If it later comes up that you knew about it, some states prosecute the ones who did nothing- as it should be.

Otherwise, find some new books

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

Anger and hurting people is actually a self protective mechanism. Humans are the only animals who murder without a reason.

Not true- there is always a reason, and we are not, by any means, the only specicidal creatures out there.

Generally, abuse/neglect crimes are based in competing-needs motivations, with varying levels of de-personalization in the mix. "I have x amount of time that I have (feel like) working. Resident M demands more of that time than I am willing to share..." One then begins to project, deciding that resident M is, "selfish", egocentric, unreasonable, demeaning, etc.. Once that step is taken, it "justifies" punishment/witholding from the patient.

This behavior is generally narcissistic, borderline, or sociopathic.

Not that there aren't abusive patients who would probably be more socially appropriate with a little leather-lovin' (I'm truly thinking more of the ED, guys, honest!)

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

What the heck?! edit took out the cool whip-smilie I found:

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

people forget that nurses arent "special" people.... they are just people who happen to be nurses, as their JOB.... the same can be said for policeman, priests, teachers, coaches who do horific things to people........ etc etc.... nurses are no different than other people.....