How much Verbal Abuse should a nurse take from a PATIENT?

deathnurse · Jun 22, 2004

"How much Verbal Abuse should a nurse take from a PATIENT?"

"the last shift I worked this client pulled my hair, slapped at me, sniped, spit and was totally "with it" during every episode."

"This client's tounge is like a two sided razor and I'm needing advice on how to Doctument the abuse with out being personal, catty or unprofessional."

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You've been brainwashed. You're not in this for the abuse are you? You've had your hair pulled and been slapped and you're worried about taking it personal?

Dixiedi · Jun 22, 2004

I have just started a new home health care case. My client is a well to do person and treats the other nurses and myself like DIRT... Constant verbal abuse is a norm from this client.
We have been called the "w" word for prostitute, the "s" word for loose woman, the "B" word for female dog and worse.
the last shift I worked this client pulled my hair, slapped at me, sniped, spit and was totally "with it" during every episode.
This client's tounge is like a two sided razor and I'm needing advice on how to Doctument the abuse with out being personal, catty or unprofessional.
HELP!!!!

First, I just have to say the funny. The first answer to the post suggest the pt is a man. My first impression is that it is a wmoan! Would love to know which?!

Anyway in home care you just have to get used to hearing the verbals and get used to knowing when to duck to avoid the physicals. ALWAYS chart these behaviors but expect them you should.

We are invading their home. We are taking their self sufficiency away from them. We are being mean!

Most of the pts are simply acting out. Chart it factfully. "Vulgar language continues as care is provided." "Slapping and spitting today during VS assessment." "LLL seems to be clear, difficult to assess while stethoscope being grabbed from my ears. Resistance to Tx continues."

lindarn · Jun 22, 2004

First, I just have to say the funny. The first answer to the post suggest the pt is a man. My first impression is that it is a wmoan! Would love to know which?!
Anyway in home care you just have to get used to hearing the verbals and get used to knowing when to duck to avoid the physicals. ALWAYS chart these behaviors but expect them you should.
We are invading their home. We are taking their self sufficiency away from them. We are being mean!
Most of the pts are simply acting out. Chart it factfully. "Vulgar language continues as care is provided." "Slapping and spitting today during VS assessment." "LLL seems to be clear, difficult to assess while stethoscope being grabbed from my ears. Resistance to Tx continues."

Let me get this straight- A nurse is supposed to "get used to", being hit slapped, and bear the brunt of foul language, because we are "invading" their home? "WE", took self sufficiency away from them? WE are "being mean"?

Home health nurse have to "GET USED TO IT"?

No wonder nursing has become a pitiful excuse for a profession. We have no self respect. Do these patients act like this toward other health care professional, like physical therapists, and/or occupational therapists, or, God forbid, their physicians? Somehow, I know the answer is "no".

And your excuse is that they are just, "acting out". When my children were toddlers, and "acted out" in an aggressive manner, they sat in the corner and ate a piece of soap. Needless to say, that type of behavior ceased rather quickly. There is NO excuse for physical abuse- it is called assault and battery, and I would have the person arrested and file charges. Perhaps when it becames known around town that nurses are not punching bags or whipping boys and ARE WILLING, AND DO, file criminal charges, that type of behavior would stop. I cannot believe that you make excuses and tolerate that kind of conduct.

As I said, I doubt that these individual exhibit that kind of conduct towards others that participate in their care. WHY SHOULD NURSES PUT UP WITH IT?

Just my New York $0.02.

Linda

Dixiedi · Jun 22, 2004

Let me get this straight- A nurse is supposed to "get used to", being hit slapped, and bear the brunt of foul language, because we are "invading" their home? "WE", took self sufficiency away from them? WE are "being mean"?
Home health nurse have to "GET USED TO IT"?
No wonder nursing has become a pitiful excuse for a profession. We have no self respect. Do these patients act like this toward other health care professional, like physical therapists, and/or occupational therapists, or, God forbid, their physicians? Somehow, I know the answer is "no".
And your excuse is that they are just, "acting out". When my children were toddlers, and "acted out" in an aggressive manner, they sat in the corner and ate a piece of soap. Needless to say, that type of behavior ceased rather quickly. There is NO excuse for physical abuse- it is called assault and battery, and I would have the person arrested and file charges. Perhaps when it becames known around town that nurses are not punching bags or whipping boys and ARE WILLING, AND DO, file criminal charges, that type of behavior would stop. I cannot believe that you make excuses and tolerate that kind of conduct.
As I said, I doubt that these individual exhibit that kind of conduct towards others that participate in their care. WHY SHOULD NURSES PUT UP WITH IT?
Just my New York $0.02.
Linda

If you look at it from thier point of view, yes, "we did it to them" No, it doesn't make sense but they are the pt! Remember the grieving proccess?

Ignore their verbal blasts, gees words don't hurt ya.

Learn to duck so you don't become the receiving end of the physical.

Grow up. These people need your understanding not your "I'm here to help you", "you should be grateful I come here" routine.

Nurses catch people at their absolute worst. To expect pts to be gracious and thankful for your presence is to expect them to be healthy, in which case they don't need you!

veteranRN · Jun 22, 2004

Obviously, going into a home as described is an "unsafe" situation and I would chart it as such. Let the administration know that you do not feel safe. If the local home health office will not listen take it up with corporate. But don't "bend over" for the agency, it is not worth it.

mscsrjhm · Jun 26, 2004

If you look at it from thier point of view, yes, "we did it to them" No, it doesn't make sense but they are the pt! Remember the grieving proccess?
Ignore their verbal blasts, gees words don't hurt ya.
Learn to duck so you don't become the receiving end of the physical.
Grow up. These people need your understanding not your "I'm here to help you", "you should be grateful I come here" routine.
Nurses catch people at their absolute worst. To expect pts to be gracious and thankful for your presence is to expect them to be healthy, in which case they don't need you!

I expect common decency. Don't mind ducking the dementia patient, or child, but to say someone is "just acting out"....

No, I have too much respect for myself. If I wouldn't treat someone that way, I also won't be treated that way.

Destinystar · Jun 26, 2004

you have all the right in the world to exercise your civil rights and call the police. if the guy is sane he should be subject to arrest like anyone else if not he should be 51/50. and your employer should be held responsible for knowing about the situation, and ignoring it which is another contributing factor to your physical/emotional pain and suffering.

i have just started a new home health care case. my client is a well to do person and treats the other nurses and myself like dirt... constant verbal abuse is a norm from this client.
we have been called the "w" word for prostitute, the "s" word for loose woman, the "b" word for female dog and worse.
the last shift i worked this client pulled my hair, slapped at me, sniped, spit and was totally "with it" during every episode.
this client's tounge is like a two sided razor and i'm needing advice on how to doctument the abuse with out being personal, catty or unprofessional.
help!!!!

leslie :-D · Jun 26, 2004

recently the hospital I work at did a survey of all hospital staff. It was about job satisfaction, work culture, and how one views the various management levels.
Its quite sad but the survey identified horizontal violence (abuse, harrassment etc) and violence from patients, families as the highest factor in job dissatisfaction. Now we have a project going called "building a culture of success", and looking at zero tolerance also.
i have always found that being straight up in conflict situations has served me well. Regardless of others reactions at least you know you have kept your professional integrity. :) :) :)

bravo moonlady! i so agree about creating a zero tolerance work environment, amongst staff anyway. it is playing hardball at its' finest but does command a professional and civil work environment.

as for patients, i will tolerate verbal abuse and that's where i draw the line. NO SPITTING OR PHYSICAL ASSAULTS. to allow that is one of the biggest insults to the image of nursing itself, nevermind one's personal invasions of their rights to not be attacked.

Dixiedi · Jun 26, 2004

I expect common decency. Don't mind ducking the dementia patient, or child, but to say someone is "just acting out"....
No, I have too much respect for myself. If I wouldn't treat someone that way, I also won't be treated that way.

An individual who is acting out has emotional problems or they would not be acting out!

I will agree there are those individuals who will hit and are just plain ill-tempered. We all know those exsist and they are usually women with no children in town to help with their needs! We also know WHY they have no kids around to help! These individuals should not be tolerated. However, the post I was referring to made comment about the pt being alert and oriented. That's NOT an adequate method of deciding if a pt is competant to make such decisions about instinctive behaviors. Refusing to care for these individuals is wrong!

mscsrjhm · Jun 26, 2004

An individual who is acting out has emotional problems or they would not be acting out!
I will agree there are those individuals who will hit and are just plain ill-tempered. We all know those exsist and they are usually women with no children in town to help with their needs! We also know WHY they have no kids around to help! These individuals should not be tolerated. However, the post I was referring to made comment about the pt being alert and oriented. That's NOT an adequate method of deciding if a pt is competant to make such decisions about instinctive behaviors. Refusing to care for these individuals is wrong!

We can all agree that an incompetent person must be taken care of. I, and possibly others, had the impression throughout this thread that the person was competent, just mean.

cd48x · Jun 26, 2004

QUOTE]Hi I saw your post and would like to read your story on how 1 person can make a difference in a large system. email me @ [email protected] ...have a gr8 day!

Canuck RN · Jun 28, 2004

the last and final time i was assaulted by a patient happened at 2330 hrs when an alert,oriented 80 year old woman laid her teeth into my left forearm.myself and another nurse attempted to dislodge her teeth but they were her own and she wasn't letting go.the attack was totally unprovoked. the bite bled and i presented myself in the er where i had blood drawn and was put on a 2 week course of antibiotics. the old gal also had bloodwork drawn. her gp visited in the am and in defense of the nurses, he said her behaviour was intolerable and discharged her home stat. to add insult to injury the antibiotics caused a yeast infection so memories of that old lady stayed with me for a month. the worst though was when the hr person appeared on the unit and laughingly asked to see my battle scars. i told him to go to he** and continued working. management still doesn't have a clue as to a nurse's working conditions!!!!