I was punched

[Still Riding]

yesterday while in clinical i was punched by one of my clients, he just wailed on me without any notice. Now my face looks like crap, a huge black eye and cheek on the one side, even the bridge of my nose is bruised.

This man wasn't little either he was compitent, this was all because he was mad that i wouldn't/couldn't give him a narcotic (I'm only a student) I ofered to get the nurse I was co-assigned with but then he got really angry and started pulling out his IV, i stepped closer to encourage him to stop and then he let me have it. I was so shoked, and seeing stars. my nose was gusshing blood and I could barely drag myself out of his room.

ALL that was done was that incident reports were made, no charges. My prof said we should contact the police as this is assult but the administration got all over our @$$es about then the school will not be aloud to return for clinicals for the rest of the semester. This would not only affect my education but about 2/3 of my class. My prof said it was up to me what i wanted to do, and i chose not to call the police because I wanna graduate, and not screw up my classmates year.

But the situation really pisses me off. I look like crap, it hurts and I had to have e-rays of my face to look for broken facial bones.

Thanx for letting me rant

[akcarmean, LPN]

I am amazed at what I just read:crying2: :angryfire I would document, pics, witness reports, e-rays , etc whatever documention you can get. talk to a legal advisor. Call the police and file a personal report for now to avoid the school and the hospital. I agree the school or hospital should pay for your bills. They have to carry malpractice insurance and injury insurance. If you were to slip and fall they would have to pay even if you were a student nurse there. Also if they new this pt. was this way they should have never even put a student nurse in a position like that. If they did it knowly b/c they thought that they could shove him off on a student and not deal with him that is wrong. I would really get some investigation on this. Go above your instructor and above who spoke to you from the hospital. I agree they wouldn't want the public attention on a matter like this. Just my 2 cents.

I am so sorry you have to go through this and are suffering. I understand how they are threatening with your studies and your school but you have personal space and rights. I would fight to the end even the school if necessary to be able to finish my career. NO PERSON should ever be treated in this manner.:angryfire :angryfire

Please take care of yourself and keep up posted.

Angelia

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Let me be clear about this:

Call the police.

Allowing yourself to be assaulted and abused is no way to begin your nursing career. What is being said to you here: that you have no value and that the school and the hospital is more important that you are. You need to send them all a message: that you will not be treated like garbage. Are you questioning the wisdom of joining a profession that encourages its members to suffer abuse in silence?

Couldn't agree more. For your own dignity and the dignity of all your fellow students/classmates, and nurses everywhere. This abuse MUST stop being swept under the carpet ! We are SO worth more than that ! :angryfire

I agree with teh newsbrief idea above, and I would persue this in a heartbeat.

So VERY sorry you got hit like that... ((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))

[Still Riding]

My prof is being very suportive. She encouraged me to call the police, and press charges, but ultimatly it was my choice. I am in Canada in one of the Western provinces, and i'm not really sure of the laws.

I also kinda don't want to start my career with a fight, the director of my program called me and i went to see her, we discussed my options and the school is encouraging me to press charges and that the facility is just blowing smoke and can't cancel my or any other student's education. I was told that it was just that one admistrator that was causing a problem and that now the facility will be behind me 100%

We called the police and charged him with assult, I'm not sure if i wanna prosocute as I may not be in this province over the summer months, and I really don't have time for it (while being completely honest). But I think I will let him sweat a little.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

My prof is being very suportive. She encouraged me to call the police, and press charges, but ultimatly it was my choice. I am in Canada in one of the Western provinces, and i'm not really sure of the laws.

I also kinda don't want to start my career with a fight, the director of my program called me and i went to see her, we discussed my options and the school is encouraging me to press charges and that the facility is just blowing smoke and can't cancel my or any other student's education. I was told that it was just that one admistrator that was causing a problem and that now the facility will be behind me 100%

We called the police and charged him with assult, I'm not sure if i wanna prosocute as I may not be in this province over the summer months, and I really don't have time for it (while being completely honest). But I think I will let him sweat a little.

Good job. These jerks need to learn sonner than later that this type of acting

out is NOT going to be tolerated.. not by nurse, not by anyone else. If he did this to you, who else is he knocking around out there? :angryfire

Please take care of your little face.. I feel so badly for you.

[akcarmean, LPN]

CONGRADULATIONS ON PRESSING CHARGES:balloons: :balloons:

You did the right thing. Now take care of yourself, rest and have a nice Thanksgiving..

Angelia

[CCU NRS]

My prof is being very suportive. She encouraged me to call the police, and press charges, but ultimatly it was my choice. I am in Canada in one of the Western provinces, and i'm not really sure of the laws.

I also kinda don't want to start my career with a fight, the director of my program called me and i went to see her, we discussed my options and the school is encouraging me to press charges and that the facility is just blowing smoke and can't cancel my or any other student's education. I was told that it was just that one admistrator that was causing a problem and that now the facility will be behind me 100%

We called the police and charged him with assult, I'm not sure if i wanna prosocute as I may not be in this province over the summer months, and I really don't have time for it (while being completely honest). But I think I will let him sweat a little.

Yes you should and consider this... The shoe on the other foot? Would anyone suggest a client/patient not press charges in such a clear cut case. You have the same rights as everyone else just because you are the care giver doesn't mean that you forfiet your rights. If a client had a black eye and bruise face and nose and had to have x-rays you bet your sweet bippy they would jump all over pleasing the client. Stand up for your right and the rights of all of us out here in trenches! wow got a little fired up huh but you get my drift.

[NurseGuy_in_06]

My prof is being very suportive. She encouraged me to call the police, and press charges, but ultimatly it was my choice. I am in Canada in one of the Western provinces, and i'm not really sure of the laws.

I also kinda don't want to start my career with a fight, the director of my program called me and i went to see her, we discussed my options and the school is encouraging me to press charges and that the facility is just blowing smoke and can't cancel my or any other student's education. I was told that it was just that one admistrator that was causing a problem and that now the facility will be behind me 100%

We called the police and charged him with assult, I'm not sure if i wanna prosocute as I may not be in this province over the summer months, and I really don't have time for it (while being completely honest). But I think I will let him sweat a little.

Good for you. You never know, by having him charged now you may be saving another nurse down the road from being punched.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Woot. Glad to hear the patient is aware what he did was assault.

[Headhurt, ADN]

Good for you for pressing charges! Now, follow through and don't let this thing drop!! If you do, you are sending the message to this turd that it is okay to assault nurses, and he may just do it again when he doesn't get his way. Send the clear message "This is not acceptable, and will not be tolerated!"

I am grateful to work in a facility where there is zero-tolerace for abuse (whether verbal or otherwise).

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

This incident is a graphic illustration of what it is like to be a nurse these days.

We are supposed to just lay down and take any and every thing.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

Glad you decided to file the charge. This is a legal matter, not a political b.s hospital matter. I don't know what their problems are. If you were a registry or temp nurse there and that happened, they would tell you that if you filed charges, your agency couldn't sent more nurses...sound familiar? This place is NOT nurse(or student) friendly. At least you know where not to apply.

[Jo Dirt]

CALL THE POLICE!!!!!!!

AS LONG AS WE COWER AND TURN THE OTHER CHEEK WE CAN EXPECT TO KEEP BEING SECOND CLASS CITIZENS WITH NO RIGHTS.

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR EMPLOYER OR TEACHER TRIES TO TELL YOU YOU DOOOOO HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND YOURSELF, AND IF THAT BAS^%&$ HAD HIT MEi WOULD HAVE LAID INTO HIM, AFTER TO DEFEND YOURSELF YOU MUST ACT OUT IN SELF DEFENSE.

AM I YELLING??? HELL YES! THIS MAKES ME SO ANGRY I CANNOT SEE STRAIGHT.

AND I AM ANGRY WITH YOU FOR NOT PRESSING CHARGES AGAINST THIS LOSER!

GO TO THE POLICE!!!