4 days ago,while cleaning the patient I was having an argument with our Nursing Attendant.I just reacted when I heard him telling one of my co-nurse to do the diaper change to two of our patients and he will go to change diaper for my patient.I just told him that,we need to the changing for my patient fast so he could come and help the other staff...but this N/A was noted already to be very arrogant and acting as if he is more knowledgible and more superior to the nurses.So,argument went on,even I told him that we need to stop since we were with the patient but unfortunately he did not.So,when i answered back he was so angry at me and when i was about to go out from the room,he blocked Himself on the door and locked it,then He told me that i can't go out from that room.My instinct told me that this is not anymore a joke,and from the look on his face he really meant it.So,i look for the phone to call for my senior and to tell her that i was held by this N/A in my patient's room and that i was threatened that i can't come out from that room.But,when this N/A seen that i was about to call,He went fast on me and grabbed the phone on my hand at the same time telling me that He will break the phone so I can't make a call.Then,I look for the call bell,but again He grabbed it on my hand and pulled out the cord.He then again told me,that i dont have any means to call for help.I calmed my self and think the best possible way,after a while,I asked him in a nice way to let me go since I need to give medication to my other patients,but again he threatened me that he will not allow me to go.I told him that everything has been witnessed by the patient's escort(Im working in a Private Room for male patients here in Dubai)then,in a sarcastic words,he told me that the escort could not help me since he can't understand english.So ,the story went on....then after few minutes He told me I can go.I went directly to my senior and told her what happened,but since no one from them have witnessed it,she told me she can't solve it.So,i called our Nursing Supervisor and told Him what happened.He,went to our Ward and talked to me and advice me to write a complained address to our Nursing Director,which i did.
Today,I was called by our Unit incharged and have a long talk about it.I told her that if it was only a simple misunderstanding and argument ,I can still tolerate it since sometimes it is part of work,but for me to be threatened and was locked inside the patient room was the most outrageous behavior that i didn't expect to happened inside the workplace.But the sad thing,my In charge inform me and have read to me the letter that this NA had wrote.He wrote that,i didn't even help me,that i told him to clean the patient using the papel towel and above all things,he didnt locked me inside the room.And when they(my In-Charge)asked the escort,this man told that He didnt see this NA locking the room,nor grabbing the phone and the callbell from me,all he saw was that,when I was about to go,he stood on the door.I was really disappointed,though I was expecting it already because I have seen this NA going back to that room and I knew that he will talk to this escort.The problem here was that,I am working in a Muslim country,i know that the story could be twisted since in the first place I am not a Muslim,second,the escort was also a Muslim and not that so educated,third no one from my co-staff who was on duty that time have witnessed it.But I told my In-Charge,no matter what will happened,i will stand and will tell the truth since I was the victim here and if i will not make any complaints against him, he might do something much worst not only to me but to the other staff.
My hope is to wait for our Nursing Director,I am just waiting for the time that I will be called by Her to explain my side.....i just wish they will look on this matter fairly....
Sorry,if I ant a lot. I was just feeling so low now even I know that I am on the right side.
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
This male reader agrees entirely! Women face the horrors you outlined every day all over the world. Women and men must stand together against this. Common decency demands that we do.
Yes, this woman's story is disjointed but for goodness sake English is probably not her first language.
Her story is not unusual for women working in the Arab world - especially women from the Philippines and South Asia. Women working as domestic help are regularily beaten, raped, and starved - they have no legal recourse. The OP's status as a much needed professional in the region probably affords her a greater degree of safety but clearly not enough.
The OP needs the all the moral support we can offer right now - not critisim of her writing skills.
Thank you- ITA.
Acetabulum- I agree with all who say that this CNA is dangerous. Do not allow him the opportunity to do this again. He is dangerous, and you do not deserve to be threatened like this, no matter what country you are in. Speak with your agency as soon as possible, and get transferred out of there if you can.
the op needs the all the moral support we can offer right now - not critisim of her writing skills.
no one is trying to edit her english...but apparently several of us really did not understand the op!! thanks, ms chybil, for the clarification, and the observation that throughout the world, in 2008, women are chattel.
thanks, ms chybil, for the clarification, and the observation that throughout the world, in 2008, women are chattel.
mmmm, thats not really what she said, or implied. and it's a bit derailing from the op's original question.
this is a dangerous situation for the op. she does not have the legal protections available in dubai that we would have here, even if the nurse were male. without any legal recourse or backup from her administration the only real choice is give your notice now! get out of there. no contract or dollars are worth your personal safety, and your safety is in jeapordy as long as you remain here.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I also believe that evaluating the OPs language wasn't really the point. This woman is in a dangerous situation where she can be raped, maimed or killed by a manic, while all she is trying to do is to be a nurse to ill people. I only hope that she didn't take it so personal that she now feels she has no one to even vent to.
To the OP, if you are still reading this: If you are able to leave, please try and do so, because your life is more important than this place, who seems to have no problem with having their nurses basically intimidated and imprisoned.
At this point in time, we all understand what the poster is going thru and most of you now understand or are aware of the fact that she is in Dubai and is working there as a guest in that country, and that is what it comes down to. Lets get back to the original question or topic and try to come up with some solutions that may help her.
1. Contact your Embassy immediately in that country and provide them with the details of what happened just like you did here.
2. I definitely believe you and do not doubt one piece of the information that you have posted.
3. I would document every single thing that you can remember about the event as well and submit it to the hospital administrators where you are as well.
4. You also need to protect your safety and that should be first. And my suggestion would also be to carry a small voice recorder in your pocket, some are now not much larger than a pen that you can just turn on if you are accosted by anyone and will have the information on it as proof.
5. Not sure which facility that you are working at, but many have liasons for the international employees in their facility and they need to be contacted as well with what happened.
6. And the most important thing is you, sometimes it is not worth staying some place no matter how much money that you are making if you are going to feel scared and not empowered.
But first, speak with your Embassy as soon as possible about what happened. They are also responsible for you when you are in another country as well.
Listen to Suzanne. When you're in another country, you should understand that you are a visitor and you can't throw your weight around, so to speak. Sometimes it's best to depart. In some countries if you suffer an "injustice," in the countries eyes, it wouldn't have happened if you had not been there. The fact that you are spending money in their country won't matter.
Zenman do you think this behavior is okay? I know not likely to happen, but what if this same situation happened to you, or worse what if a doctor put their slapped , shoved or threw a chart at you which hit you during a heated confrontation. It does happen in the US. I understand your point, but at the same time no matter where you are every human being has the right to not be bullied(which is exactly what sounds like to me was going on).
I have been thining about the OP's situation all day...
Can you insist on not being alone with male employees? I think it might help to have another woman present with you - preferably a foreign national (who would presumably less susceptable to pressures from male employees).
You are in our hearts. If you have been following this thread please let us know how you are doing. I wish you well.
I understand your point, but at the same time no matter where you are every human being has the right to not be bullied(which is exactly what sounds like to me was going on).
A person may have a moral right not be bullied but it doesn't always work out this way when one is in a foreign country. Like it or not when one is guest in another nation one must live by their rules. In some Arab countries women do not have the legal protections enjoyed by western women. They can, legally, be bullied and intimidated. They do not have legal protection against sexual harassment in the workplace. It is wrong, but it is. Speaking out about it could get one in a level of trouble that one cannot tolerate.
Also, it is important to note that contrary to popular belief one's embassy can often do very little to help one. They can and do insist that local laws are followed. If the local laws are unfair (by our standards) there is nothing they can or will do to change a law or demand preferential treatment. For example, in some countries a woman may be charged with adultry if she presses charges of sexual assualt against a man. While this may be abhorent to western values it is the law and it is followed.
I have lived abroad but at this point in my life I choose not to because I enjoy the freedoms and protections offered in my own country.
BBFRN, BSN, PhD
3,779 Posts
Thank you- ITA.
Acetabulum- I agree with all who say that this CNA is dangerous. Do not allow him the opportunity to do this again. He is dangerous, and you do not deserve to be threatened like this, no matter what country you are in. Speak with your agency as soon as possible, and get transferred out of there if you can.