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.
In the United States this is called "false imprisonment" -- there must be something that can legally be done about it. I would definitely file a report, even if just for harassment, and find a new job now.
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).
No, it is not ok and I personally would beat the living daylights out of anyone who tried to harm me. However, I live in Bangladesh and do not have to worry about being put in jail for trying to protect myself, which is a consideration in the USA, especially if the courts know you're a martial artist.
The middle east has many troubles and there is much info on an international schools review site about teachers getting into trouble. Dubai is probably the best of the middle east countries to be in, but I do my best to only stop in the airport. A rich person there can bury you in the desert with no problem. Course I can do the same here for $100.
Women here have the right not to have acid thrown on them or killed for dowry but it happens. We can't control the world.
In the USA I would protect myself without injuring the other party too much (except by accident) and calling the police.
Of course this behavior is not acceptable the difference is in the usa there is not much chance of getting stoned in the street for being a female alone with a male. In a country where due process doesn't exist (as we know it) for women I would work on coming home, not asserting my rights.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I would like to know what country does the OP originally come from? It may not be the USA. One of the reasons why I would not like to work or even visit abroad is because I would be a stranger in their country, a guest that can be subjected to almost anything. At least, here, I would have a chance-a family member would have an easier time trying to get to me by taking a bus or train rather than go through so much red tape, a passport and whatever complications can arise.
This is such a horrible situation, especially if there is no one there to support or advise you. God, I wish the best for the OP.
the middle east has many troubles and there is much info on an international schools review site about teachers getting into trouble. . a rich person there can bury you in the desert with no problem. course i can do the same here for $100.
women here have the right not to have acid thrown on them or killed for dowry but it happens. we can't control the world.
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sad but true. i think many us nurses who have never lived abroad don't realize how different and unsafe other countries can be for women.
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).
This is true, but when you are practising in another country, you are also under their rules or even behaviors and one may find them disgusting. But you do not deal with them the way that things are done here and that is what many of you need to realize.
As mentioned above, when one goes to work in another country, they are there as a guest and have no legal recourse in many cases, especially in the Middle East. We actually hear of people disappearing there and never being found.
It is always best to go thru the Embassy for your country before doing anything there, or anywhere else when overseas. They are the ones that would represent you, and that is one of the things that they do.
In the United States this is called "false imprisonment" -- there must be something that can legally be done about it. I would definitely file a report, even if just for harassment, and find a new job now.
Sorry, but when in another country, things do not work this way. And they do not follow US laws there. The poster is also not an American either.
And who is one going to file a report with? You have to know everything about a situation before you do anything like this, especially over there. That is why it is best to contact the Embassy of your country there before doing a thing and they usually have information that would work the best in a situation.
But sometimes, it is best just to leave and leave the country. You cannot just go and find a new job when you are in another country as well, it depends on the type of visa that one is on, as well as who sponsored it.
Things are not as easy to do there as one would think that it was.
Depending on the country of citizenship of the poster as well, the Embassy may not be able to do much but can get the poster safely out of a situation that could become quite volatile for her.
so many of us are still being repressed, oppressed, aborted, maimed and murdered on this planet simply because we are female. this post just reminded me how lucky i am to have been born where i was born. i can't imagine living in the many parts of the world where a woman is still treated as less than nothing - or nothing more than property.
here's the "women are still chattal" passage...since it seems to be making you nuts!:typing
alkaleidi
214 Posts
In the United States this is called "false imprisonment" -- there must be something that can legally be done about it. I would definitely file a report, even if just for harassment, and find a new job now.