Hit in the face!!

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Specializes in Psych, M/S, Ortho, Float..

Ok, why is it that they always hit you in the face???

Dementia patient up and slugged me just under the left eye, in the middle of saying something. They usually stop talking to concentrate before punching!! Nothing broken and yes, I did go to occupational health. And the Dr looked at it. Nothing broken. Came close to my nose though, sinus feels like it is swelling and it feels like I just came back from a root canal without the zylocaine.

I'm just ****** that he caught me off guard. I yelled to keep myself from slugging him back.

Arrrrgggg!!

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keep safe distance?

gentle approach?

no surprises

and hope that you're feeling better

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

lol aww yesterday I was holding an arm while the RN inserted an IV and the patient did several things to my arm such as:

A: Scratch it

B: Dig her nails into it

C: proceed to shove my hand in her mouth (had no teeth)

D: slugged the RN in the stomach as soon as the IV insertion was finished

Some hazards just cant be avoided no matter how nice and careful you are, its just part of the job. I do hope you are okay though.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

I'm so sorry. Sometimes it's all we can do to not hit them back, isn't it? I hope you're well soon.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

You have to develop fast reflexes in LTC especially with dementia sufferers!

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lol aww yesterday I was holding an arm while the RN inserted an IV and the patient did several things to my arm such as:

A: Scratch it

B: Dig her nails into it

C: proceed to shove my hand in her mouth (had no teeth)

D: slugged the RN in the stomach as soon as the IV insertion was finished

Some hazards just cant be avoided no matter how nice and careful you are, its just part of the job. I do hope you are okay though.

Yes, I agree. I resent post that infer that the nurse is somehow responsible. You just never know what a demented patient is going to do. It is usually the ones that have no history so they catch you by suprise that do the most damage.

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Specializes in Psych, M/S, Ortho, Float..

Thanks people,

I'm at the same stage that I would be if recovering from a root canal...

Kind of tender but no bruising, just my injured pride that I have left. I'm always (except today) aware of what the patient is doing while talking to them. I was tired and not paying attention, and whamo!!

Finished the charting, called the boss and said I was going home. Done, outta here before anything else happens. I wasn't going to even try and do meds after that. Being clobbered is not an excuse for making mistakes. I also wanted to get home fast in case my eye started to swell shut. Can't drive one-eyed!!

So ya, I'm fine. I may tip toe around that guy for a while though.

Jacquie:rolleyes:

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Its all part of the job my good nurse friend. So far this year I have been:

Spat in the face by a guy going through DT's whom just so happend to have hitch hiked to Florida all the way from New York to go to the fair, that was simply lovely.

Blind sided in the balls by a skitzo w/ bipolar disorder while restraining her. Now that hurt, she was incredibly strong.

Punched, Scratched, cursed at, spat at, ballslapped, um and other things I just forget about when I go home lol.

Not even including the numerous times I respond to security incidents and have to jump ontop of the patients to restrain them or give them injections to go night night.

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