I saw another nurse assault a patient

KThurmond · Nov 10, 2015

Call an anonymous company hotline. That was abuse:no:

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2015

That sounds very bad. I would report it immediately, urgently. I don't know why you have fear of someone thinking you made it up to get a promotion. But think of it this way, if you are the kind of nurse not to report abuse do you deserve the promotion? Be the person who deserves the promotion.

Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B · Nov 10, 2015

Ok so to start lets say if the situation is how it was presented here it must be reported.

Now for the unpopular part. I'm not sold. Firstly the setup of a "big male" (excellent job setting up a gender and size disparity) grabbing an "elder" (over 65 means more severe crime, also implys that the man was less of a threat, although that is not always the case) by the throat, and pushing them down. Ok so you and a coworker saw this happen, plain sight the entire incident, no mitigating circumstances. The fist thing the coworker says is "I don't want trouble" and instantly the OP assumes that they will not be believed. The victim for some reason cannot make a complaint themselves. (I've never met anyone so drunk or old that they don't remember being throat slammed, or have visible marks. Maybe some diagnosis not known to us) I feel that the situation is maybe not as clear cut or as well witnessed as presented here. My BS detector is firing.

all that being said I'm just some dude on the Internet my opinion matters not even a little. Just contributing a thought/gut feeling. If you see something say something, if the incident was as serious as you say how could you or you coworker no report it.

canigraduate · Nov 10, 2015

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?

So basically you're letting another nurse assault a patient so you won't lose your chance at a JOB?

OyWithThePoodles, RN · Nov 10, 2015

I would feel worse NOT reporting it. If you are worried, report it anonymously. But I would do it sooner rather than later, because the longer you wait the more suspicious it looks that it didn't really happen or that someone is trying to throw "big male" under the bus. If he was abusing a pt in any way it HAS to be reported.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Nov 10, 2015

Am I the only person here who's first thought was 'homework assignment'?

morte, LPN, LVN · Nov 10, 2015

I'm trying to picture you weighing out protecting your potential job promotion and protecting this old man.

that is not what i got out of that comment, my take was that the complaint would not be taken seriously. and, i have to wonder if this is a homework question.

morte, LPN, LVN · Nov 10, 2015

Am I the only person here who's first thought was 'homework assignment'?

hrumph, that will teach me to read all the responses first...

ixchel · Nov 10, 2015

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?

If you don't report this, you might as well have assisted the assault. If this nurse engaged in this behavior at a time when it was witness, what is there that no one has witnessed? Report it anonymously, and if it comes back to you, explain your reasons for anonymity sincerely. Hopefully, any human would understand why you chose anonymous reporting.

The co-worker who witnessed it with you should be ashamed of him/herself. It's not "borrowing trouble". It's preventing the assault of other patients.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Nov 10, 2015

Am I the only person here who's first thought was 'homework assignment'?

I thought that, too. What kind of nurse would NOT report an abuse regardless of job progression. To me, if this were real life, I would be thinking if you have to ask about something that basic in relation to nursing, I wouldn't want you taking care of me or any of mine! Also, the way the 'abuse' was described, there would be an investigation of the report, with enough evidence to support the allegation, most likely in bruises and also with other's statement...

ixchel · Nov 10, 2015

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...

Report to management.

If that does nothing, or if there is retaliation, report to the BON.

This really is a huge deal.

ixchel · Nov 10, 2015

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.

For this, if your facility has an ombudsman or a patient advocacy department, put the patient in touch with them. If the patient does not remember what happened, YOU contact the ombudsman or the patient advocate, explain the situation (anonymously, if needed), and let them take it from there.