I almost got into a FIGHT!! Please HELP!!!

[nURse_dEZi]

I work in community health (with homeless mostly)

I work at a community centre for the homeless and the other day I was called to the front because someone was having a seizure. While dealing with said patient, a few men were standing a few feet from us. One of them threw a lit cigarette at her and it landed on her.

When I called him out on it, (I said "Did you throw that cigarette at her?!") the dude came charging at me. I stayed in my spot (I was hovering over the patient with my other coworker that didnt seem to notice what was going on).

He started yelling some stuff that didnt make a ton of sense and in that moment I realized her was cracked out of his mind and I knew I wasn't going to get anywhere verbally with him so I just redirected myself back to my patient. He then got up and charged over to me like he was ready to throw down, and honestly if I didn't stop talking to him when I did I know he would have tried to swing at me.I had to keep reminding myself I'm here for the patient and not him but I swear in that moment it felt like it would have been worth it.

He hung around close to me and I was watching in my side view because I knew if he got anymore adgitated he was going to hit me in the face. I handled everything professionally from there on but I had, and still have, a raging storm in side of me.

It made me so mad someone could do something like that, and in the same breathe try to get in my face like I was bad for calling him out.

I almost wanted him to try it, not because I'm a tough person by any means but I would have loved every second of putting that guy in his place (even if I lost).

I'm starting to feel like I'm going out of my mind... I've never been the violent type nor do I want to start...

I know I know, be careful etc.... It would help if people have some coping strategies when dealing with horribly frustrating people.

[caliotter3]

I know that if this were me, I would now be seriously starting a job search, or at least, a good, good vacation. This was a lucky moment. Next time you might not be so lucky.

[Spine_CRNA, BSN, RN]

Take up martial arts like muay thai or boxing. It is wildly therapeutic to hit things.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Take a self-defense class. You will need it where you're working, and even if you end up working somewhere else that's less risky. You also may want to consider taking a course in crisis prevention. You may never use the techniques, but the knowledge is never wasted.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Take a course in deescalation.

There a lot of other ways to deal with the situation besides "calling him out." Do you know for a fact that was the guy? "Did you throw the cigarette at her," is going to get a response when you want your attention focused on the patient.

And deescalation skills? You'll always use them: with patients, visitors, family members, coworkers, relatives, neighbors, stander-bys, etc.

[Spine_CRNA, BSN, RN]

Learn "Verbal Judo" by a former police officer. It's all about de-escalation. See the video on YouTube.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

1) Take a self-defense class or a martial art (Judo is supposed to be good for real-world application). 2) witnessed assaults need to be reported to law enforcement. You and your clients -- such as the woman who had an ember on a stick thrown at her -- have the right to bodily safety.

[Spine_CRNA, BSN, RN]

Since this thread is deviating slightly into a martial arts discussion (which I love) I want to add that Muay Thai has immense real world application and it can't be stressed enough how cathartic hitting pads and bags in practice can be.

[BedsideNurse]

I was listening to a podcast that featured and expert on mass shootings in hospitals and violence against health care staff. He was saying that if a patient or family member assaults you and obviously means to do you harm, you can and should fight back with force enough to stop them. The example he used was, if you are in the ED and wearing your stethoscope around your neck (which he advised never to do), and someone grabbed your stethoscope and tried to choke you with it, you would be in the right to clock them in the face until they stopped. He said in that situation you would have the right to fight as though your life depended on it, because it just might. As nurses it is hard to think about responding that way, but then again, if someone was throwing lit cigarettes at my patient and then acting erratically with intimidating physical behavior, maybe I would. lol. I can't imagine all the goings on down at the local home center. (!)

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

When you "call someone out" on something, they ARE going to get defensive. Best thing would have been to move it and continue on with the care the patient needed. When finished, you could say something like "in the future, I would appreciate if you would stand away from a person in need so we can take care of them." Just an idea I had reading this.

[Spine_CRNA, BSN, RN]

Is OP even checking on her thread or are we just giving advice to each other?