Have you ever felt unsafe while in HH?

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I have read older threads on this subject and am looking for others to share their experiences.

Thanks for the responses.

Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

yes I felt unsafe from time to time in HH...

unsafe because of the patients, or their families, or their animals, or other individuals in the vicinity...

I live in a state with CCW laws and I took advantage of that when in HH in metro Detroit...

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I have had only one situation recently in my one year of home health care. I went to see a new patient. He answered the door, pointed which sofa to sit on and disappeared back into his bedroom. I started getting a little suspicious. He walks out pushing his O2 tank and comes over and sits right next to me. I got up and got my bp machine out of my bag and he says out of the blue "what does your husband do?" I am divorced but didn't tell him that. I replied quickly that I live with several roommates. He asked if I was a cougar. I didn't skip a beat and finished his bp and the rest of the visit and got out of there quickly. My supervisor always says leave if you don't feel comfortable and she got someone else to see him after my visit.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

LPN2000- ===shiver=== that's creepy. . . . .at least your supervisor stood up for you instead of say, telling you it was "patient abandonment" :rolleyes:

Speaking of Detroit, I wonder if they ever caught the b%^$%^! who did this.

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/nurse-shot-&-killed-on-the-job-in-detroitL

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LPN2000- ===shiver=== that's creepy. . . . .at least your supervisor stood up for you instead of say, telling you it was "patient abandonment" :rolleyes:

Speaking of Detroit, I wonder if they ever caught the b%^$%^! who did this.

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/nurse-shot-&-killed-on-the-job-in-detroitL

Wow :(

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Of course I have felt "unsafe". Let's take for example a patient answers the door holding a wooden hanger and says come in and proceeds to beat the crap out of another family member with the hanger. The other family members all start after each other with broomsticks and pots and pans. I leave and return to the agency.

Then......I get yelled at by the owner of the agency for "not signing the patient up".

Adult protective service was notified, and already had the case open.

OMG:eek:. You got yelled at for not signing this patient up!!!!! They should have thanked you for not trying to sign him up!!!!

I'm glad to hear that adult protective services was notified.

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On one visit to an apartment near downtown Dallas I was to deliver a nebulizer to a pediatric patient. The mother kept looking out the front window. I asked her what she was looking for. She replied "your car". I got that sick feeling and hurried through the paper work. As I was leaving the community, two Dallas patrolmen looked at me like "what are you doing around here!".

On another visit, I arrived at an apartment complex right after a shooting occurred. I had to step over blood on the stairs.

I'm retired now but I guess I could write a book about all the "close calls" I had. I used to think "I'm glad my mom doesn't know I am here!".:clown:

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
On one visit to an apartment near downtown Dallas I was to deliver a nebulizer to a pediatric patient. The mother kept looking out the front window. I asked her what she was looking for. She replied "your car". I got that sick feeling and hurried through the paper work. As I was leaving the community, two Dallas patrolmen looked at me like "what are you doing around here!".

On another visit, I arrived at an apartment complex right after a shooting occurred. I had to step over blood on the stairs.

I'm retired now but I guess I could write a book about all the "close calls" I had. I used to think "I'm glad my mom doesn't know I am here!".:clown:

You mean the mother was looking out the window to make sure your car wasn't being stolen in the probably less than 30 minutes it took to deliver the nebulizer?!? :uhoh21:

You are a brave, brave woman. I hate it that the innocent victims of violence are denied consistent care because there are so many nurses who would flat refuse to go. So far, I've just encountered neighborhoods with lots of taggers and the every Friday and Saturday night visit by the LAPD Air Unit circling around and around with it's spotlight. That normally would be a drug dealer on the run.

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Specializes in Adult NP- post acute care.

One visit w/ an elderly confused man led to the PT discussing the high crime rate in his neighborhood. He went back to his bedroom while I was starting up my laptop to chart the visit- when he returned w/ a loaded revolver, swinging it around and saying how he could shoot anyone trying to break in (he opened the chamber and showed me it was fully loaded). I told him to put the gun away and he did, and I said "Lord, please help me." I imagined my life being taken accidentally by this scared elderly man.

Another visit involved a man w/ psychosis NOS (who I never met before) was to be discharged from our agency after I drew labs. He was paranoid and agitated and began yelling at me. He then left the room and I quickly grabbed my things without taking any vitals or getting any labs drawn, and I left. Who knows what he was planning on getting out of the other room and I wasn't about to stay around to find out. I am now applying for positions in the hospital. I am a single mother and my life is worth too much to continue putting on the line for this job.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

These stories make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. We are so vulnerable alone out there. Lynn0904-- when a patient is admitted for homecare visits, how is it that these 2 with documented diagnoses of psychosis are not properly evaluated at admission? Is it just too cursory r/t lack of resources to catch an unstable psych patient who may harm others or himself? You never should have had to face that. Glad you got out OK.

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Specializes in Adult NP- post acute care.

Thanks nurse 156, I did get out ok. Our agency does not screen for unstable mental health or for any safety issues. We go and assess and continue to provide care, regardless (at lease I haven't heard/experienced any closing of cases due to safety/MH instability). We do not have a psych RN and when I report safety issues, it is met with a response such as "ok, we'll let everyone know...if you don't feel safe then leave." But the PT remains active w/ our agency.

When I was hired, I was told that I was going to have an area on the outskirts of the city. I am in the heart of the city in a high crime area and no one wants to have my assigned area.

I chose HH b/c I have mild scoliosis and my neck and back were hurting while working in the hospital (tele floor). I thought there would be less strain on my body. WRONG!!!! I have been in homes w/ bedbound PT and expected to reposition w/ no help- and these are well over 250lb PTs.

I really enjoy some aspects of HH, but the agency is not putting enough standards in place to ensure our safety and prevent injuries. It's time for me to leave, wouldn't you agree????

Everyone, please be safe and take care of yourself!!!!

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Yes, I was wondering about some of these heavy patients and no lifts to get these people up. My patient weighs 55 pounds and it is not too bad. But still he is just going to get heavier and heavier. Why not get a lift?:mad: I don't think HH cares anything about nurse safety. They just want any client they can get so they can get the money period.

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never had a problem :uhoh3:

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