I saw another nurse assault a patient

[morman]

A big male nurse grabbed a struggling, intoxicated elder by the throat in front of me and pushed him back on the bed, growling "I told you to f'ing lie down!". I would normally have absolutely have no problem reporting this, except that we are in quasi-competition for the same job. I have little trust that the management will not see my disclosure as anything but self-serving and untrustworthy. The patient himself cannot make a complaint and the co-worker who was with me doesn't want to "borrow trouble". What would you do?

[O9eleven]

Grab that nurse by his neck and tell HIM to calm the f*** down while handing that patient but in the reality of it, just report that nurse manager asap.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

Seriously, if this isn't a twisted joke, what other response would you have but to report him?

[caliotter3]

When I reported witnessing another nurse assaulting an elderly person, eventually I was fired. To protect myself, I promptly went to the local police station and filed a written report. About two or three years later, I found out that absolutely nothing came of my report, but I kept the report info and was satisfied that it wouldn't come back on me (other than the blacklisting, which would have happened anyway). Report to protect the patient and to protect yourself, but prepare for negative consequences.

[morman]

Ah, that is the rub. I truly think that any report I make will be discredited as nothing more than sour grapes, and will henceforth be labelled a trouble-maker. Perhaps the anonymous route would better, then I could just volunteer as a witness. Seems devious though...

[Libby1987]

I suppose it depends on your established credibility but I have lived by doing the right thing and have never regretted it.

If there was a legit concern for violent retribution then I'd have to be careful how I went about it but I would never sell my soul for a promotion.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

What you may fail to understand in this situation is that it is not about you or your bid for a position. You as a nurse have a ethical duty to report the facts. You can do it in such a manner so it does no appear self-serving.

Per the ANA code of conduct

The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community.

The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient.

it is crime in the US not to report the abuse you have witnessed as a mandated reporter

This patient has been verbally and physically abused and it needs to be immediately reported not only to your superiors but to the BRN in your state if in the US or regulatory agency

[MOSTLYHAPPYRN]

Could that patient not file some kind of report that he was being abused? Could you perhaps help that patient to do so? The other witness and the management sound really upstanding. Perhaps a new place of employment is in order.

[caliotter3]

You are a mandated reporter, dilly dallying about how you would be perceived is really not the issue. The well being of the patient and your legal position as a mandated reporter are the issues here. Choose not to report and you risk more than your current "reputation".

[FieryPsychRN, BSN]

Report this! That poor patient was physically and verbally abused. If this nurse treated the patient this way in front of two witnesses, imagine what he does or has the ability to do to patients with no witnesses! Whether you are in competition with him or not, you have to report what you saw. Do the right thing!

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

It would be nice if doing the right thing always resulted in a warm fuzzy or at the very least no negative repercussions but IRL it ain't so. You could be taking a very real risk of loss of job, security, advancement, retaliation to your family etc. You're dealing with people and people don't all play by the same rules. Do you have the resources both mentally and financially to weather the potential negative consequences?

It is very concerning that Nurse Goon would pull this in front of credible witnesses apparently thinking he is going to get away with it. Is it a pattern? Will you or someone else catch him next time and put a stop to it? These bullies get bolder with your tacit approval.

Is anonymous reporting possible? Is there a manager or supervisor you would trust to confide in and get some guidance? You may have to rally some support to do the right thing. You don't have to go it alone and be hung out to dry. Is the only thing holding you back from reporting this a potential lost job? If you report and lose out on that job what are the consequences of that? If it's known that you would sacrifice a job for being a patient advocate would that make you a stronger candidate next time?

I would love to hear what you did and the outcome.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

What would you do?

If you were the elder who had allegedly been grabbed and pushed, what would you want the bystander to do in this situation?

This is just some food for thought. We should treat others exactly as we would want to be treated.

[nursel56]

Ah, that is the rub. I truly think that any report I make will be discredited as nothing more than sour grapes, and will henceforth be labelled a trouble-maker.

And therefore you want to work for a place that doesn't give two ***** about a nurse putting their hands around the neck of a vulnerable person who "cannot report it themselves"?

Your attitude makes no sense to me, but since I'm pretty sure your reasons for failing to report (your personal job prospects), are unethical any way you look at it, and that doesn't appear to be a concern, I'd suggest the anonymous route.