Psych nurse attacked by patient

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I feel very angry and sad about the nurse who was attacked in Western Australia. This is the story.

http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8895806%255E1702,00.html

I think that the moving of psych patients back into the community has been the biggest mistake ever. Mental Institutions should have remained open, not this "care in the commumity" rubbish.

My sister has a mental illness and has attacked a nurse before. My parents were upset when the nurse decided to press charges, however, I told them I felt otherwise and was glad she was taking the action. She was charged and having been attacked by her myself, strangled when I was 15 and verbally abused a number of times I feel very strongly about this psych patients in the community issue. She has other incidents of what i call anti social behaviour and has been taken to hospital numerous times but they release her. it goes around in circles and is starting to affect the health of my parents.

I hope the nurse in ICU recovers, and her colleague too and that the governent and these health bodies who think they know what it is like sitting in their offices finally do something.

I just feel so sad and angry tonight. I really do :o

The nurse is still in an induced coma :o and apparently has had renal failure and was on dialysis. There was a snippet on the news saying she had planned to leave her job just days before the attack. Her sister was on the news.

The ANF (WA branch) has set up a fund for her.

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Specializes in ICU.

Dreadful, dreadful business!!! Sorry but I have NO sympathy OR empathy for her attacker and hope he gets seven kinds of **** kicked out of him while in prison. I hope they treat him like they do paedophiles.

It still has not even been mentioned over here - can you west Aussies keep us posted - please????

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.

There was an article in the paper here, Adelaide, recently. Saying pretty much what Barb has posted.

It's a total tragedy. From reading the article, it's not looking too promising. Still, I never say.... never. You just never know. We can only hope & pray for her.

Perhaps the collective prayers, thoughts, putting it out there to the universe, by all of us, may just help at least a little.

As Gwenith says, can you West Aussies keep us posted please? Much appreciated.

Regards,

Grace

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Specializes in Renal, Haemo and Peritoneal.

i too have a family member with a serious mental illness (younger brother with chronic schizophrenia). he has been detained as an involuntary patient for over nine months now with no sign of improvemnt in his condition. i agree that in a lot of cases the idea of "normalisation" in the community instead of residency in a mental health facility is a pile of crap.

my brother doesn't want to be an inpatient but i live too far away to be of any real support other than phone calls to my mother who has to deal with him on a regular basis. i love my brother but i know he is best left locked up at this stage.

i am disturbed that an assault of this kind can occur in a facility where mental health patients are no doubt at their most dangerous. i think that pushing for the upgrading of aussalt charges "against a public officer" will not solve the problem (particularly with mentally ill people) but it may have an impact on the rest of the public who elect to subject nurses (and other health workers) to unwarranted assaults both verbal and physical.

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Specializes in ICU.

I was angry when I wrote the previous statement because I doubt if this person was truly mentally ill. By the accounts in the paper I had the impression he did not have a known psych illness. I am sorry but all too often I hear excuses for bad behaviour toward hospital staff. It is not acceptable - it is never acceptable and that is why I hope if he goes to prison the other prisoners will treat him badly.

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The latest edition of The Western Nurse (April 2004) has extensive coverage of the aftermath of the attack on Debbie Freeman.

'Mental Health Nurses respond to brutal attack on colleague', and 'Swan Nurses still at risk' are the two main articles.

For those who aren't ANF(WA) members, a PDF version of the magazine should be on the Web site in the next few days.

regards,

David Cohen

Media officer,

ANF(WA)

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Specializes in ICU.

Thank-you so much David we here on the East coast appreciate the update. Send our sincere condolances and wishes for the best to Debbie and her family. This tragedy hurts us all.

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I was wondering how she was. I have been travelling around Europe for the last 4 weeks now and have been thinking of her.

I start work in UK in May, which should do wonders for the credit card which is currently not in good shape :o

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Well it's great news!!

Spoke to mum today and this young lady is now married. Not sure when she got well, discharged, married ect. Mum just said she forgot to tell me before.

She spent time in rehabalitation and was also given some money (not sure what it comes under) by McGinty. She still has the right to sue the governement.

Isn't that the best news you have heard this week!

I am so happy she is okey.

I tried to find an article on the net to post but couldn't find one.

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Specializes in ICU.

Brilliant news Barb - There was some posts here that she did recover fully. Absolutley marvellous!!!

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