I think I read an article here somewhere that stated nurses are assaulted more than any other profession.
In my short 2 years as an RN, I've been assaulted (or seen other RN's assaulted) by patients MORE times than I can count (and I don't work in Psych)! I don't blame the patients who attacked me because their illnesses caused major changes in mental status and they didn't know what they were doing.
I DO, however, blame the RN's, Nursing assistants or MD's who DON'T know how to interact with these people and only make things WORSE! Do NOT snicker or giggle at a patient no matter how ridiculous their behavior might be....it doesn't help! And if a fellow nurse says "I need help in here" or "call security", please take it seriously!!!
Today I had a male resident tell me that if he wanted to hit me, he could have. I walked away from him and reported what he said to the charge nurse. She pulled him aside and told him that that kind of talk is unacceptable.
Ive had it happen a few times. Mostly confused patients or ETOH W/D pts. I think nursing in acute care puts RNs in a very likely position to be "assaulted". Most times I don't think it has to do with RNs not knowing what they are doing.....just comes along with the territory.
Little old ladies can get kinda squirrelly when demented and kids can be pretty unpredictable. I've had a good share of pinches, slaps and bites from people not in their right mind but two were significant:
1) A generally healthy gentleman who was near retirement age, 10 days prior to his admit he was working full time as a machinist. He was admitted for abx for cellulitis. He had been started on MS Contin at the hospital, since his arrival at the SNF we had been documenting and notifying his doctor that he was a little more off each day. The doc wouldn't change the orders because the man wasn't especially frightened by the hallucinations and responded well for TLC and reorientation. And he did, until he finally lost what little grip he had on reality and I was the devil there to kill him and stood between him and the window. He punched me in the face so hard it dropped me to my knees, my nose was broken and both my eyes blackened so bad schlera vessels ruptured. His doc's partner heard the commotion & was a few feet from the door when I crawled out it. He picked me up, got me an icepack and a ride to the ER. He also wrote new orders.
I went back to work a week later, on my regular group. The man was still there and my DNS offered to move him or assign another nurse. I really didn't hold a grudge, his behavior wasn't his fault so I thought we should leave it up to him. I spent the first half hour of the shift sitting on the side of his bed hugging him while he cried and told me he was sorry over and over. The stories he later related of what was happening in his head leading up to that were very interesting, "he" was still in there, trying to convince himself that what he was hearing, thinking and seeing wasn't really happening and eventually lost his grip on it. He was a lovely, lovely man, one of the few patients I've kept in touch with over the years, he passed away last summer.
2) Sixteen years ago. Physically healthy, physically large & strong 50yo man with a rare dementia that has a very rapid onset & progression. Victims of this disorder are often physically and sexually aggressive at a stage where they are still physically strong and capable. I was working in a tiny LTC with a very fragile, largely helpless elderly population. I eval'd this guy at the geri-psych unit and told my administration he was not an appropriate and would pose a risk to our residents. Also, he was repeatedly trying to leave the locked unit and we were not a locked facility. His p-doc upped his meds, 24 hours later he was declared stable and the facility took him anyway. Four days later as I was coaxing him away from the door he was trying to abscond through he grabbed me by the back of the next, folded me in half, put me on the floor and body slammed me. Multiple vertebral fractures complicated congenital defects, that event has altered my entire life (and still impacts the employer's WC rates).
What I find disgusting is that I've seen MD's walk past a room, look in and see an RN (or RNs) being physically assaulted and continue to walk on!!!! I can't tell you how many times I've seen this!!!! It's infuriating! When I was on orientation as a new ICU RN, we had a patient going through DT's, and I kept calling the primary MD for more meds; I finally told her (me as a new RN) that SHE needed to come to the bedside to evaluate the patient...he kicked her in the stomach....she ordered the appropriate meds!!!
I've seen other MD's walk right past and look in, but do nothing, while another RN is screaming for help!!!! What?? just because I'm an RN, it's MY job to be assaulted?????
:idea:If you dont mind me asking (all of your more experienced nurses), where do most of these assults/verbal words/bitings happen? I did phlebotomy for about two years, and I never saw any of the nurses go thru a situation like that. Im about to start nursing school this november. I didnt know that things in this department could that bad (especially with other co workers). It makes me think twice about making sure I have a strong attorneys.
Again I was just wondering where most of these incidents happened. Im only 23, so I apologize for asking so many questions.
Thanks again,
NewbeTonursing
"P.S. Anyone awake and alert, intact and bigger than me who dares to try to do anything will suffer severe, legal repercussions....and I usually let them know I have attorneys in my family so MY fees will be FREE...... "
You definately make me think twice. :)
I've only been an RN for going on 3 years and I saw it in telemetry, right out of nursing school, and I saw it as a new ICU RN. It doesn't happen every day, but it does happen. Overall, I waited 20 years to become an RN and the good far outweighs the bad, but something NEEDS to be done to protect RN's. I think it's easier for an OLDER NEW RN to deal with these kinds of situations than for a YOUNGER NEW RN to deal with, but it's something that NEEDS to be taught to ALL new RN's..."how to deal with aggressive patients/family members/MD's/other RNs"
I haven't even graduated yet, and during my clincal placement a client grabbed and twisted my arm hard enough during a bed bath that it left a mark...
It bothers me that this seems to be normal occurances...
I don't think it's "normal", but it does happen. If I'd known before I became an RN, I probably would have Still become and RN...I did it for all those people who need compassionate nursing care; but I just wish I'd been taught how to deal with such situations. There are times when I could've been harmed by patients, but because of my age (I think) and life experience, I knew how to "talk them down" to a point where I wasn't such a threat. It really is a skill that NEEDS to be addressed in nursing school!!
I once had a pt tell me that they were tempted to take a box cutter and force me to take them down to our pharmacy so they could get to the good stuff. Without missing a beat I said: "You wouldn't get far because we have a K-9, and I'm in the right place to get sutures if I need them." Patient assured me it was all in jest.
Regardless, I notified security and my charge nurse. Pt was searched. Turns out they had a large pocket knife and several box cutters. They were also known to be violent on previous visits. Since I hadn't felt threatened PD was not called, and I remained the pt's RN with security on stand by. The pt understood I had to follow protocol, and gave me no trouble after that.
Way to go!!! I want to be you when I grow up! Seriously!!
Unfortunately no. I'm still a student and I was afraid of bad repercussions if I spoke out. (The staff is REAL close knit.)
I just sort of bandaged myself, and went back out. Then I went home to my haagen daz and sniffled.[/QUO
From past experience, the best thing you can do for yourself is to speak up! Sounds like you should have pressed charges against her! You are a human being who deserves respect too; doesn't matter if you're a student or not. If the hospital doesn't back you up, do you really want to work there in the future??? Maybe filing a complaint with the board of nursing might help???? I don't know. I feel for you though.
A nurse pushed me into a cart and knocked me down. I cut my hand and all she said was to better prepare myself before I come back to HER ed.
Unfortunately no. I'm still a student and I was afraid of bad repercussions if I spoke out. (The staff is REAL close knit.)
I just sort of bandaged myself, and went back out. Then I went home to my haagen daz and sniffled.[/QUO
From past experience, the best thing you can do for yourself is to speak up! Sounds like you should have pressed charges against her! You are a human being who deserves respect too; doesn't matter if you're a student or not. If the hospital doesn't back you up, do you really want to work there in the future??? Maybe filing a complaint with the board of nursing might help???? I don't know. I feel for you though.
UPDATE!
Last night, she was pulled of the floor and I heard today that she was terminated.
Reason?
Slapping a patient.
Glad it sorted itself out, but next time I will speak up, student or not. I want to thank all of you for y'alls support and concerns. Nurses Rock!
Poi Dog
1,134 Posts
Today I had a male resident tell me that if he wanted to hit me, he could have. I walked away from him and reported what he said to the charge nurse. She pulled him aside and told him that that kind of talk is unacceptable.