I was slapped by a doctor!

[cluelessRN81]

I honestly can't believe it myself! I just graduated from my program on May 16 of last month. I am still in orientation at a large level 1 trauma center on a busy cardiac care unit. The hospitalist is known for having a horrible temper anyway. Well, he was on a roll all shift today. One of my pts BP was all over the place all day. It became very low suddenly. I told my preceptor (still on orientation) and she said to have the MD paged. He was not happy and screamed at me over the phone. I braced myself for when he got to the floor, already getting very nervous. Well, he came up fit to be tied. He slammed the papers he was holding onto the nurses station where I was standing with the health unit coordinator. I forgot to get the pts chart out for him to look at (as he requested on the phone...my fault i know ). He asked for the chart and I said...hold on I'll have to get it for you. He turned bright red and said harshly (but not screaming) "You paged me and you're not even ready!".

And then thats when it happened -- he took his hand and hit my cheek. Now, it wasn't some soap-opera backhand where I went flying across the room or anything..but a little pop. Kinda like what a mom would do to a small child if they said a bad word or something. I was so shocked I couldn't even say anything. I just handed him the chart and he want to the pts room. The whole time I was fighting back tears. The HUC and I just exchanged looks of shock with each other! I think I am going to file a complaint tomorrow against him...and the HUC said she will back me up since she was the only one who witnessed this. I had no idea that doctors behaved this way..is this normal?? To say the least I'm dreading going back in on Wednesday. I had heard some doctor horror stories..but nothing like this -- what I consider to be assault. Am I overreacting? I don't want to be seen as a drama queen or a trouble maker being on the floor only 2 weeks in this unit . Ugh!

[I love my cat!]

I know and have heard of Nurses who have filed for Workman's Compensation. These cases were due to verbal assaults in the work place. They didn't even involve physical violence. Some ended with Temp. Total Disability and others settled with Total Disability (permanently disabled). To add, all had WC lawyers fighting for them.

There were no permanent physical scars, but permanent, emotional ones.

Dear OP: Good for you for reporting the incidence and doing what you felt was appropriate!

[lindarn]

Nice to finally hear about a hospital doing the right thing. Seems they responded very appropriately and I actually think it was nice of them to also give a raise.

I also think it is fair of them to ask for silence since they did respond in a responsible manner.

They nevver gave the nurse a hard time, they dumped the doctor, they gave the nurse a raise. Seems like a very good and fair outcome.

I disagree. When he now moves on, will the next place he goes to, know his past? Probably not. There is no paper trail to let anyone know what this guy is like, and what he is capable of doing. I still would report him to the Medical Board. i would not want him taking care of anyone in my family. And the next nurse might not have the guts that you did, and make a stink. If he resigned, that is what will show in his personnel file. Re think your silence. Did you consult an attorney and have him represent you with the family? If you did not consult an attorney, I would do so, while the iron is still hot.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

[caliotter3]

I reported battery against me by a patient's friend and ended up without a job and my employer has been slandering my good name, insuring I can't get work if it is up to them. Next time something like this happens, I won't hesitate to file a police report. Never rely on your employer to take care of you. I learned this the hard way.

[shelly304]

A charge of battery based on a slap that left no physical injury is a waste of the police's time.

She's got his - and the hospital PTB - full attention.

He won't do this again.

Over the past 15 years and in four different states that I have lived in, I have volunteered at battered womans shelters. I can't begin to count the number of times a woman has told me this exact phrase. "I never called the police because he only used to slap me." "I never thought he would do anything more than slap me." When a women stands before you, with a bruised, swollen face, broken ribs, and a soul that is ripped to shreds, she finally understands that, yes, HE WILL DO THIS AGAIN! Next they tell me,

I wish I had called the police the first time he slapped me. I wish I had understood that I had the legal right to report this as abuse and a slap that leaves no physical injury is NOT a waste of time to report to the police.

The incident the OP has written about is much more involved than just a physician slapping a nurse at work. It reaches to his past jobs, future positions and his home life. And it reaches to our perceptions of woman and violence.

BATTERY-Willful or intentional touching of a person. Offensive touching can constitute battery even if it does not cause injury.

This is my husbands best definition. He practices family law.

[suanna]

I know this is an older post but WOW!! Disrespectful language is normal from time to time but a slap!!! No matter how gentle it is I'm thinking it's a NO NO. 1st phone call- to the administrator on call- just to let them know I would be calling the police on one of the docs, 2nd phone call- the police- this guy is dangerous, 3rd phone call is to a civil damages attorney- this guy just made my hopes for earily retirement much easier to obtain!!! I can only hope to be so lucky.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Oh no, I'm very realistic about my expectations (lol). My comments are not about suing and getting rich.

Had the OP pressed charges as we all wanted, the most that probably would have happened is the doc might have pleaded no contest to simple battery and gotten off with a fine and maybe anger management classes, at worst. That's being realistic.

If she sued, it's unlikely she would have gotten a big reward since she really wasn't injured. She might have been able to get a very small settlement. Maybe. That's being realistic.

No my objection was to the suggestion by some that the hospital acted on behalf of the nurse and that they were being so nice and so generous by giving her a raise. I guarantee you they were only following the recommended course of action set forth by risk management. Anyone who thinks otherwise is being somewhat naive. Every action they took was to minimize any future liability on their part. They were protecting themselves and you know what? That's what I expect them to do! I didn't say they were wrong for doing it.....they have to protect themselves which is why I say that we have to protect ourselves. Just understand why things are happening, that's all I'm saying.

Sharon,

I do not doubt for a second that the hospital acted only on their behalf and in their best interests. That is what motivated them to do the right thing without a doubt. I do not disagree with that for one second!

But, it did get them to do the right thing, which from what I have seen is pretty rare, and that is why I do not think that people should be so "out for blood" or dissatisfied with that resolution. The OP's choice to press charges is a whole other matter and really shouldn't involve the hospital in my opinion.

[Faeriewand, ASN, RN]

I was quite surprised to see the advocation of violence on this thread. I know many people are posting in anger but really, to advocate violence back against the doctor is not right either.

Has this been addressed already? Or was anyone else as shocked as I was about all the angry responses? Why so much anger? I am a new nurse still looking for my first job so perhaps someone could enlighten me on doctor nurse relationships/feeling towards one another. There must be a whole lot that I don't know on the subject :)

PS while working as a CNA, the worst tantrum I saw by a doctor was him using the "F" word because the nurse hadn't passed him the right thing during a code. But I haven't seen any kind of hostile relationships yet between docs and nurses.

[shelly304]

I don't think you have to be worried about being slapped by an MD at work.

Which posts advocated violence against the doctor? I missed those..

[psigrl]

My dear, I am new to this site as I have been looking for a place to find in order to discuss nurses and ptsd. And I have found your letter! When I was a young nurse and new to the O.R a surgeon wasn't having a good day and reached around and slapped me with a "needle driver". I broke scrub and we ended up boycotting the operating room until he was brought to justice. Please, for the sake of all your colleagues, do not let this go unattended! If we expect to be treated with respect it is our duty to stop this outrageous behavior! You must speak to your unit director asap and also make sure you find out who the chief of staff is. If this isn't going anywhere then you must file a complaint with the police department as you have witnesses to this event.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

Over the past 15 years and in four different states that I have lived in, I have volunteered at battered womans shelters. I can't begin to count the number of times a woman has told me this exact phrase. "I never called the police because he only used to slap me." "I never thought he would do anything more than slap me." When a women stands before you, with a bruised, swollen face, broken ribs, and a soul that is ripped to shreds, she finally understands that, yes, HE WILL DO THIS AGAIN! Next they tell me,

I wish I had called the police the first time he slapped me. I wish I had understood that I had the legal right to report this as abuse and a slap that leaves no physical injury is NOT a waste of time to report to the police.

The incident the OP has written about is much more involved than just a physician slapping a nurse at work. It reaches to his past jobs, future positions and his home life. And it reaches to our perceptions of woman and violence.

BATTERY-Willful or intentional touching of a person. Offensive touching can constitute battery even if it does not cause injury.

This is my husbands best definition. He practices family law.

THANK YOU SHELLY304 for that. For all of those other posters out there who thought this was settled by a facility and ok, it's beyond that, as Shelly304 so clearly described. Good job!!!

[MassED, BSN, RN]

I was quite surprised to see the advocation of violence on this thread. I know many people are posting in anger but really, to advocate violence back against the doctor is not right either.

Has this been addressed already? Or was anyone else as shocked as I was about all the angry responses? Why so much anger? I am a new nurse still looking for my first job so perhaps someone could enlighten me on doctor nurse relationships/feeling towards one another. There must be a whole lot that I don't know on the subject :)

PS while working as a CNA, the worst tantrum I saw by a doctor was him using the "F" word because the nurse hadn't passed him the right thing during a code. But I haven't seen any kind of hostile relationships yet between docs and nurses.

PS- sometimes there are big tantrums during codes.... those are different moments of stress that everyone can forgive a slip in language (or two).

[MassED, BSN, RN]

:dancgrp:

I love that dancing group... cracks me up - my kids thing so too.