yesterday,when i was changing the patient he suddenly become aggressive and hit me on my nose's bridge which caused my eyeglasses broken in half. i was shocked and frightened because i'm just worried that my nose is going to be broking or something. but i was able to hold in my tears while doing my round. later when i'm charting my adl the nurse supervisor passed by and asked me "why are your eyes red?" i said, "nothing". he then asked "if nothing why are you crying?". i still said, "nothing." at that moment my eyes just turned red but my tear didn't come out yet. he then told me "if you don't tell me then i'll write you up forthree days suspensions." i know he was just kidding because he was a nice nurse and supervisor. he also told me "i'm your supervisor i can help you solve the problem." i couldn't hold in my emotion no more so i broke down in tear. when this happened there are some nurses and other cnas around. i told them that when i was changing the patient he suddenly hit my nose's bridge and it make the eyeglasses broken. at this moment i cried more because i couldn't control it because i'm just too concerned about my nose that it might be broking. they told me my nose's bridge is turned bluish now and it slightly swollen. one cna gave me ice to put on it. and the supervisor and nurses told me to stay and not to go home yet so that they can do the incident report and so that the facility is going to replace me with new eyeglasses. i cried because i worried about my nose not the eyeglasses because i have an extra pair at home i can use. when my family came to pick me up and even until now i don't even tell them about this becaus i don't want them to know that i cried at work and also don't want my parents to worry about me. today i called in and asked if i can stay home for two days because my nose's bridge needs time for healing. and the next following two days are my days off so i'll have 4 days to rest. i'm not going to work today so my parents though they cancelled me and the rest of the day i just staying in my room. thanks god that my nose is not broking but i do feel so embarrassing now because many people saw me cried. i hope i can handle this better since i'm already 25 i feel like i ruined my reputation and i don't know what to do when i come back to work... how am i able to look at these people? i feel like i have no more face because i embarrassed myself at work especially in front of the supervisor,nurses and others cnas. can you please honestly tell me is it embarrassing to cry at work? how am i able to face these people again when i return back to work? i'm worry that these people going to look down at me after they saw me cried in front of them. i really need your advice, thanks!
It is a shock the first time you ever get hit by a patient.
It will likely happen again, unfortunately, but know that it happens.
And there is something about being hit in the face that is just so humiliating... hit me in the arm, hit me in the leg, hit me in the butt... but the face is so personal.
I get it.
You sound new and you sound like you were afraid to report this.
Were you afraid of getting into trouble?
Don't think that.
Next time (or even this time, if it's not too late) fill out an incident report.
You should have been able to report it and maybe even sent to the ER to get your nose checked out (at the expense of the facility).
Also, it is important for these behaviors to be reported so they can be addressed.
This is a tough tough job you chose and I encourage you to take care of yourself!
Best wishes and hang on... you are not alone.
Actually I got hit by a few confused patients before but it was just a light hit only. But especially this time he punched me hard on my nose that I can heard a loud smack from this attack. This is the first time I experienced an attack in the face so I was shocked and scared b/c I thought my nose is going to broken. And I hate when they punched me in my face b/c I don't want to have any bruise or damage to it b/c this is my sensitive area. I have been working here for two years already and it was my first CNA job but I might still sound new to some people I guess. That day I didn't think about reporting this incident to the nurse b/c I know if I did then I wouldn't be able to hold back my emotion and going to cry infront of eveyone. But at last it happened b/c my supervisor noticed I'm about to cry and kept asking me what happened and I have to tell them the true and so I couldn't control it and cried which is very embarrassing. They did asked me to do the incident report already but a few days later when I went back to work no one mention with me that they going to pay for me to have a check up for my nose. Before the nurse told me that after I did the incident report social service is going to replace my glasses but until today they never talk to me about it either. Well, I guess this is how this facility is like. I know that CNA is a hard job that's why I'm going back to school to studying to be a nurse. Thank you so much Hygience Queen for your post!
So my fist day that I returned back to work after this incident I was somewhat embarrassed to face and talked to everyone at work again. But I'm happy that many of my coworkers, nurses, and supervisors asked me if I'm ok now and asked me if I already go see the doctor. However I didn't go to have a nose's checkup b/c I feel that it wasn't broken after all. And on my 4 days off I put lots of ice cubes on my bruise and swollen spot so now I feel that I'm already recovered. And I also feel good now that I can let go and move on without thinking about it anymore! So I just want to say thank you to you all here once again for your advices and encouragments. And at last I wouldn't forget to say thank you to all my people at work for their concern about me! Luv u all eveyone!:)
Hellokittyandme, I've cried at work for a much lesser reason before. It's embarrassing. It sucks. But most people won't even remember this by the next time they see you. Hope you are feeling better. :hug:
Hellokittyandme, I've cried at work for a much lesser reason before. It's embarrassing. It sucks. But most people won't even remember this by the next time they see you. Hope you are feeling better. :hug:
I got to agree with you sapphire18 b/c I noticed that they seem like they already forgot it too!! That's a good thing!!
I did the same thing about 3 or 4 months ago when I was punched in the face-- I cried and the DON came around the corner and asked why. Just answer honestly. If you say "Nothing" they'll keep asking.
Sometimes it's hard not to take things personally, especially when residents I care about start losing control. It's ok to have a good cry sometimes. :hug: Just make sure you get your nose looked at.
Hey, kid. In this business you have to get the emotion out some way. Ether you let it out by crying or you let it builds up inside of you until you reach for the bottle, or take the pills or you get so burned out you 'take that long swim',(suicide). Never apologize for being human. For as that old French guy Edmond Rostand, who wrote 'Cyrano de Bergerac', said "There is nothing more sublime then tears...Nothing.
Specializes in Med-Surg and Ambulatory Care (multispecialty).
I floated to our facility's locked psych unit yesterday and was hit in the face when trying to give care to a patient. First time being hit by a patient and I immediately stepped back and started crying in the hall. Felt teary-eyed most of the morning like a big wuss but staff was sympathetic. It wasn't that it hurt that much, it was more of the shock of it all. On top of that I have been having a rough week with some tough assignments on my own floor so the hit sent me over the edge with emotion. Trying so hard to have a thicker skin at work, but it's just not my nature yet. I'll just keep on keeping on.
You will never get over crying but since you mentioned that you supervisor is a male let me tell you something. when we male ask question we a seeking knowledge. We ask direct questions we want a direct answers. We aren't complicated creatures. The supervisor knew you were crying, and he wanted to know why. He didn't want to delve into your soul. He just wanted to know why you were crying. The worst answer in the world is "Nothing" Then he has to9 continue to ask the same question. It is so frustrating. My wife is the same way. Her answer to my question, "What time is it?" has always been "Why?"
Merlyn, GREAT post! Listening carefully and answering the question is a valuable skill. Too many of us (not just women, but perhaps mostly women) read all kinds of hidden meanings into a question and fall apart trying to think three moves ahead. I'm a woman but I worked for decades in a primarily male occupation and I picked up the tendency to be literal, goal-oriented and frustrated with expectations that I read between the lines. It was a great experience because it gave me empathy for men and insight into how difficult my own behavior is when, for example, I ask my husband, "Would you like to..." when I really mean, "I would like to do do..."
hellokittyandme, I am sure your supervisor wanted only information so he could meet his responsibilities which include making sure you and other staff are safe.
You poor honey! What a traumatic, upsetting experience, both physically and emotionally! Made even worse by trying to stuff it down and handle it on your own. If the people in your organization are not understanding and supportive, then you are working in a sick organization and should get out.
I'm betting that they DO understand, though, and that you are imposing all the unrealistic standards on yourself. You were in physical and emotional pain, shock and distress. Give yourself the same tender kindness and understanding I know you'd give to your patients. Tears are healing and not forever. Healthcare is a team sport. We can't do it alone or by imposing unreasonable standards on ourselves.
Staff cry where I work because face it, sometimes that's what you need to do if you work in long-term care and aren't a sociopath. Hope you get support to recover from the assault and to plan for your future safety (and everyone else's.)
It is a shock the first time you ever get hit by a patient.
It will likely happen again, unfortunately, but know that it happens.
And there is something about being hit in the face that is just so humiliating... hit me in the arm, hit me in the leg, hit me in the butt... but the face is so personal.
I get it.
You sound new and you sound like you were afraid to report this.
Were you afraid of getting into trouble?
Don't think that.
Next time (or even this time, if it's not too late) fill out an incident report.
You should have been able to report it and maybe even sent to the ER to get your nose checked out (at the expense of the facility).
Also, it is important for these behaviors to be reported so they can be addressed.
This is a tough tough job you chose and I encourage you to take care of yourself!
Best wishes and hang on... you are not alone.
I cannot like this post enough. So true and so well said.
I've definitely cried several times at work because of either being hit by a resident or overwhelmed. It's just a part of the job and there is nothing to be ashamed of. I've seen nurses and other aides as well as the DON wipe away tears before.
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hellokittyandme
23 Posts
Actually I got hit by a few confused patients before but it was just a light hit only. But especially this time he punched me hard on my nose that I can heard a loud smack from this attack. This is the first time I experienced an attack in the face so I was shocked and scared b/c I thought my nose is going to broken. And I hate when they punched me in my face b/c I don't want to have any bruise or damage to it b/c this is my sensitive area. I have been working here for two years already and it was my first CNA job but I might still sound new to some people I guess. That day I didn't think about reporting this incident to the nurse b/c I know if I did then I wouldn't be able to hold back my emotion and going to cry infront of eveyone. But at last it happened b/c my supervisor noticed I'm about to cry and kept asking me what happened and I have to tell them the true and so I couldn't control it and cried which is very embarrassing. They did asked me to do the incident report already but a few days later when I went back to work no one mention with me that they going to pay for me to have a check up for my nose. Before the nurse told me that after I did the incident report social service is going to replace my glasses but until today they never talk to me about it either. Well, I guess this is how this facility is like. I know that CNA is a hard job that's why I'm going back to school to studying to be a nurse. Thank you so much Hygience Queen for your post!