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.
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! I think many nurses don't press charges for various reasons. And unfortunately, until we start pressing charges for assault it will always be swept under the carpet, if possible. Less problems for the hospital. I am also a student but have decided that if a pt assaults me I will phone the police on the spot. It is my right whether the hospital likes it or not.
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
can you slap an armlock or something on a patient that is atteempting to hurt people? how is that generally dealt with? as you might have guessed, i am not yet a nurse.
can you slap an armlock or something on a patient that is atteempting to hurt people? how is that generally dealt with? as you might have guessed, i am not yet a nurse.
You are really not supposed to do anything but remove yourself from harms way and call Code 39(this is what we call it)unruly/combative patient to which security responds.
I commend you for following through and pressing charges. Please follow through with this and take him to court. Yes it may take a while but it will be worth it in the end. It will not be a "bad start" to your career. It will be something you can and will be proud of yourself for doing. Nurses are held responsible for their actions every day, not hold your patient responsible for his.
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.
Ohhhhhhhh yes...to have a school that doesn't believe in the safety of their students, or an administration that does not believe in the safety of their employees are putting themselves up for one heck of a liablity and are using fear techniques to keep you in line.
You were a victim of volience and there is NO one that should EVER tell you otherwise! I would call the police ASAP, file a report, and don't take the threats from others!
If the school is threatening you with suspension, tell them to give you a copy of that clause in their rules...if they can't, then they are blowing smoke up your toosh!Talk to your school Dean, or as high up as you can...If you are brave you can tell them that you feel that is very unfair and wrong, and that you are considering talking to a lawyer if for any reason you are suspended or mistreated in the future of school because you ARE going to press charges for assult on your person!
Oh that's awful! I am so glad you did file & press charges against that creep.. I work primarily with addicts/psych pt.s and can tell you, you have to watch your back-always..your going to run into a lot of that population in the ER too. Good for you standing up for your rights!! Just cause your a nurse doesn't mean your supposed to take abuse..HUGSXXX
Feel better soon...oh & I would get some xrays just to be safe & r/o any fx.s..
Getting some films is a very good idea. My cheekbone fracture wasn't found until I had dental panorex taken before a root canal. Yep there it was a depression, calus formed and all. I didn't take it to civil court, but I wish I had. I can still see that man's foot coming toward my face.....
Competent or not, if you are assaulted, the police should be called and charges should be pressed. I mean, if anyone assaults a police officer, sick or not, they get charges pressed against them!! Why are WE allowed to be abused?!?!
You mentioned you're from the western part of Canada. I know that several provinces have their own nurses unions and professional nursing organizations, some of whom serve nursing students and registered nurses(i.e, Ontario has the Ontario Nurses Association and the Reg. Nurses Association of Ontario). I would recommend contacting the professional nursing organization and nurses union for your province, they may be able to help. Do a Google search for nursing associations for 'the province the attack occured', to get you started.
I'm so glad you filed charges against that guy. Don't let anyone try to intimidate or manipulate you into not seeing this through. That guy will think twice about attacking another nurse plus you'll be a role model for future nursing students
Wow. I have been a nurse's aid for 5 yrs, and I graduate in 2 wks w. a BSN. I have been punched, kicked, bit, spit at and about anything else you can think of, and I had no idea you could file charges. I understand probably not toward an elderly nursing home resident that has dementia, but the others? Wow.
Sorry you had to go thru that, I swear it will get better and Good for you for taking legal action. And I would hate to be on the hospital's side if they don't pay for your hosp. bill and all injuries! Good luck!
I'm sure sorry you went through all this! And I join all others who say you are right to file charges--now follow through and prosecute the nut!:angryfire
It's a VERY good thing he was competent.If he'd been classified as "incompetent" things may have been different. I KNOW they would have been in MY state. My husband works in a state hospital; most of the clients are incompetent so when they assault a staff member, he/she has to take it!! Oh the staff are "trained" in diverting agressive behavior and applying certain physical holds on these incompetent, agitated patients who lash out, but as a staff member you don't dare think about pressing charges.WHY? Because it's understood when you hire on, that you know you're dealing with incompetent, and oftentimes physically agressive patients.There have been a number of his fellow staff who've landed in the hospital(and even if not hospitalized, then off work for some time) due to being assaulted.
Keep us posted on what happens with you! I send you hugs!:)
ayndim
462 Posts
Good for you! I think many nurses don't press charges for various reasons. And unfortunately, until we start pressing charges for assault it will always be swept under the carpet, if possible. Less problems for the hospital. I am also a student but have decided that if a pt assaults me I will phone the police on the spot. It is my right whether the hospital likes it or not.
Good luck.