Got Beat Up Badly In Face By Patient

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Specializes in this and that.

NEED ADVICE....yesterday we were short staffed and our charge nurse usually dont take patients...have u ever heard of such....he said he is not supposed to...anyway we were short with rn and tech...one of our patients who was a wrist cutter went into mens bedroom where there were x2 male patients sleeping....i told her not to go to the male room and got punched close fist multiple times on the head, face, eye, and i have lacerations on my hand and MY face is swollen...i went to er and thankfully the facial bone xray came out negative..but i have soreness the next day. the patient never get into restraint...they put her back into her room and gave her prn shot later....we all know she did not go into restraints so charge nurse wont be bothered with paperwork and utilizing rn to do 1 : 1...they never notified security saying SHE WAS CALM AND COOPERATIV3E..i was in er x4 hours..nobody from my unit even bothered to call how i was doing...i ended up calling house supervisor / security/ etc myself.

2. MY BOSS SAID SINCE SHE WAS CALM AFTER I GOT BEATEN UP...THERE WAS NO NEED FOR HER TO GO ON RESTRAINTS...WTH?:smokin::smokin::smokin:

3. when security called charge nurse and asked why they were not notified of battery...they said " no need to bec she was calm after she hit me"

moral lesson of this story: in psych unit where i worked, staff just take care of themselves and choose to act depending only on certain staff/ person...they make their own rules depending on who is in charge:yeah::yeah::yeah:...every minute the rule change on our job...

thanks everyone for listening everyone:bowingpur:bowingpur:bowingpur i know what im going to do for my carreer future...

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

1. BE SURE to fill out an Occurrence/Incident report and Workman's Comp ASAP. Take pictures of your face. It ought to be very colorful today. Consider getting a lawyer. Not to sue the pt., to sue the hospital. (not sure about that part) Also, see an eye doctor to make sure your eyes are OK.

2. Your CN has a boss. Talk to her. No way was any part of this handled correctly, and probably not in keeping w/Hospital Policy.

3. Ask security if they filed a report.

4. Get a new job? I'm sorry this happened to you.

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Specializes in Peds( NICU-Burn- adultICU 8 yrs-ER-GI.

Do you have a union? Tell them also!

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Specializes in Psych/Rehab/Family practice/Oncology.

This is outrageous! I just posted in response to another nurse who got slapped in her face. She was doing nothing wrong. Maybe these two assult posts should be combined, but either way, I'd file charges against the patient and/or your facility for failing to protect you. Things have swung too far in favor of the patients. I know, I know, we advocate for them, and I have done so all of my career, but who advocates for the healthcare worker? I am so sorry this happened to you, her, me, and all others who have dealt with this.

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Specializes in Staff nurse.

Hugs and prayers to you, that you can recuperate from this physcially AND emotionally. We support you here, and the advice in the posts before mine is excellent. Don't let this go, YOU WERE ASSAULTED and that is not acceptable or part of the job.

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Specializes in er.

I dont know the law in your area. But i had a similar thing happen to me and i filed charges against the pt.

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Specializes in trauma er.

I some states assault on a healthcare provider is a felony! It's a terrible reality in our profession and sometimes the only voice on your side is your own, I recommend you use it.

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

I say definately fill out an incident report. And possibly unsafe staffing.

But..as far as restraints go...they aren't a punishment. If the pt truly DID calm down...there would be no reason to use them.

I'm very sorry you went through this. I'd be looking for a new job.

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Seek justice whatever ways are available to you. This doesn't sound like it was handled properly at all. I hear your outrage and your pain.

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Specializes in ER, Teaching, HH, CM, QC, OB, LTC.

Sorry, this happen to you! I hope you feel better soon!

Here in NC we can't put a person in restraints after an assault if they are "calm" and most of them know this.

But I would file charges.... don't expect much to much to happen with it. But , it will create a paper trail. If you have future/continued problems speak with a lawyer about facility failure to provide safe work environment.

fgoff

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Definitley press some charges and at least get something started on this patient. My own recommendation is to quit. That place does not sound safe.

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Specializes in this and that.

thanks guys for the reply...my head /eye still hurts..i am peace loving and instead of going thru the TIME AND ENERGY of finding alawyer...ill just used that time to find another job and quit.....in our facility, there is no union and our dingbat manager is a sucker of my senior charge nurse who is a male charge nurse/bouncer ...she beleives anything he says...my senior charge nurse make BIG MONEY /LUXURY CARS/ BIG JEWELRIES / ROLEX WATCH/ DIFFERENT SHOES EVERY DAY ETC and dont do ****....i want to quit right away but i need health insurance and also my dad is undergoing chemo/radiation and i am the only caregiver so i want to quit in style and not in haste....DUDE,

I GOT CORNERED ON THE BACK OF DOOR OF MALE PATIENTS ROOM AND SCREAMED SO HARD...THE DINGBAT CN JUST SAT IN THE NURSES STATION AND THE CLERK/MENTAL TECH/SOCIAL WORKER WITNESSED AND NOT DO ****.....ALL MY SENIOR CHARGE NURSE SAID WAS SORRY..."U HAVE TO GO TO ER"...HE NEVER ASKED HOW I WAS BEC I TOLD THE HOUSE SUPERVISOR I HOPE I DONT HAVE TO END UP STAYING ALL NIGHT AND DO MY CHARTING AND 2100 MEDS AFTER I GET BACK FROM ER .....

ONLY X2 PEOPLE CALLED TO ASK HOW I WAS DOING FROM WORK AND NOBODY ELSE...IN OUR PSCY DEPT ....ANYBODY WHO DO SELF DEFENSE TO A PATIENT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM GETTING INJURED GETS FIRED THE FF DAY....WE ARE SUPPOSED TO LET PATIENTS BEAT US ON AND ON AND ON.....WE DONT CARRY PERSONAL ALARMS EITHER AND ARE BOUNCERS ARE OUR FREQUENT FLYER PATIENTS BEC STAFF IS SO BUSY AND WE ARE ALWAYS SHORT STAFFED.....WE ARE A NON UNION HOSP...:smokin::smokin::smokin::smokin:

I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL YOUR REPLIES BEC I KNOW U GUYS UNDERSTAND AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS...YES, I WILL LOOK FOR A JOB THAT IS SAFE AND BETTER MANAGED.....PEACE.....

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