Intimidation and Threats in Nursing School

[Pianoforte]

Several weeks ago, I posted a new thread regarding diversity and cultural awareness (please see below). Well, I was threatened, again, by the same classmate. He reminded me, in front of approximately 20 of my classmates, that he threatened me before and that he, presumably, could fulfill those threats. Although I had reached my boiling point, I refrained from saying very much. Instead, I went to one of the initial instructors I approached the first time and she escorted me to the director's office. I met with the director, one of the school's security guards, and the director of the hospital's security department. According to the student handbook, intimidation and threats can be grounds for dismissal from the program. I don't want my classmate to be dismissed, but only because I would fear for my safety. The director met with my classmate the following day and she requested a follow-up meeting with me for Monday.

I would like to think it is highly unlikely that this student will intimidate or threaten me for the remainder of the program (end of June). However, I don't know what will happen when the program ends. What bothers me most is knowing (which I heard months before I was threatened) that the classmate carries a gun in his car.

I consulted a lawyer who specializes in gay and lesbian issues. She was very supportive and recommended several additional measures to ensure adequate documentation. I owe the healthcare system two years (in exchange for my education). Would it be unreasonable to ask them to cancel this committment so that I can pursue employment in another city?

Thank you for reading this message and I look forward to everyone's advice.

_____

First off, I passed peds/OB. I LOVED peds! I'm headed to my last clinical rotation, psychiatric nursing, on Monday. YEAH!

So, can anyone recommend hospital systems that are recognized for their diverse workforce and cultural awareness? I attend a diploma program in Pittsburgh and my classmates, GENERALLY SPEAKING, are incredibly narrow-minded. One of my classmates, widely known as a homophobe, racist, and sexist, recently threatened me because I am gay and, as a result, I had to have a meeting with him and the course coordinator. What bothers me more is that none of my classmates who heard our exchange came to my defense. The hospital where I completed my pediatrics rotation has a lot of Amish patients and we were advised to think twice before entering an elevator with several of them because we may be overwhelmed by their collective body odor. The same thing was said about Muslim patients. Did I mention that these sentiments were expressed by my instructor?!?!?! And she has a master's degree!

This, of course, is a perfect segue to my next thought: why do so many nurses with master's degrees know nothing about anything outside of nursing? Where are the nurses, advanced degree or not, who have more altruistic aspirations? Johns Hopkins? WHERE?

Well, thank you for listening to my rant! These experiences make me feel like a complete outsider in my nursing program and, as a result, I want nothing to do with the majority of my classmates.

[colleennurse, ASN, RN]

I am so sorry that you are going through this, especially while in nursing school, like it isn't enough stress!!!! It sounds like you did the right thing by going to your instructor/DON instead of trying to handle it yourself. Like someone else said, what is that person going to do when he has to care for someone that lives a different lifestyle from his own? You don't get to pick and choose your patients! I wish you luck!

[kukukajoo, LPN]

I am sorry to hear you have to deal with this issue. I agree with the other posters about getting a restraining order or order of protection. Laws vary in each state, but the attorney would help you navigate the system.

I would also alert the police, hospital you do clinical at and the school administration (higher than the nursing administration).

This is a hate and intimidation crime and this school needs to take a soldi stance. Please DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!! Keeping emails and copies of any lettes would be wise.

Get a list of questions to bring to the meeting tomorrow. If you feel that the results are not satisfactory or you are still concerened for your safety you have every right to go higher up in school admin, which I think I might do just as a safety precaution.

Best of luck to you and hang in there- nobody needs to face this in their lives!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

actually the fact that the student has not already been kicked out for making two threats reports poorly on the school. it also reflects poorly on your classmates that they sat on their hands and did nothing.

if he illegally carries a gun in his car, i wonder how much trouble he would get it for parking it on hospital property?

i would have a hard time ignoring my strong desire to have a chat with a person that threatened one of my friends or classmates...

i'm not sure about the laws in pa, but perhaps he's not carrying his gun illegally.

that said, it does reflect poorly on the school that this person is still there despite having made documented threats. "having a chat" with the person is probably not a marvelous idea -- you don't want to become a "statistic" if he really is as dangerous as he thinks he is!

[sissyboo]

I don't think this person should be a professional either! He should've already been dismissed from the program. If he's acting this way towards you--how will he act towards GLBT patients?

Please get a restraining order against him! While this doesnt ensure safety-nothing really does-but it might help!

It sucks that you live in such a 'narrowminded' part of the country--I do too! Hang in there--you know what you are and what you want to be, you can make it.

[NurseShelly]

You need to go to your local magistrate's office and see about getting a restraining order against this individual. Let you neighbors know what is going on so they can keep a lookout...and make sure they know what kind of car he drives.

You don't need an attorney to get a restraining order.

I agree with Hopeful. Unfortunately, we can never tell whether or not a person is serious when they make threats until its too late. I would definitely talk to someone about breaking your contract as well, 2 years is a long time to look over your shoulder at work, you shouldn't have to feel afraid when you're trying to do your job. You don't need that type of distraction. I can't believe that this person wasn't put out of the program. Immediate expulsion is the only way to go when someone is being threatend in my opinion. There's just no room for street-like behavior in the workplace or school. When I was in school there was someone who was excused from the program for threatening another student and an instructor as well. This person was allowed to return after a semester. Your classmate and your instructors behavior leave much (too much!) to be desired in a healthcare worker. I hope those that witnessed this will come forward. Please be safe.

[ann945n, RN]

I would work closely with campus securtiy and be escourted by either a close friend or security whenever on campus. If this person does have a gun, oh my, i would be very worried. I would make sure all campus security know you and of this situation and like i said always be escorted especially in low light or night time areas.

[SueBee RN-BSN]

Why the he__ is this person still in nursing school, and around patients? What if one of his patients is gay, or black, or someone he dosen't like. A patient like this could be dead in seconds by lethal injection, adminstered by this hatful person. Have you made this argument to the school???

Can you transfer to another school, in another city? I don't know you, but I fear for your life. I hope this idiot does not know where you live. He has said he has a gun?? Don't go back to class, and transfer quickly. Your life is not worth paying back a school that would let this go on- My guess is that the school fears him as well. Get out of there, NOW!!

[DanEMT, ASN, RN]

You got some solid advice here, my reactions shows I haven't grown up yet. I was raised in a pretty rough city and one thing I learned is bad a$$e$ don't usually go bragging about carrying. Big mouth wimp bullies did and never really had one to begin with. They just told the gullable kid that always watned to be cool and they spread it. I would wait for time pass and things to cool off then I would catch him off campus and lay down a good old fasioned slap down on him. Make sure he is alone so no one can back him. who would believe it was you.

Good luck with this scared little bully people s*ck

[SueBee RN-BSN]

While a smack down would feel real great, it is clearly the worst thing that could happen. DanEMT you gave some bad advise here. Nice fantasy though!!

[Cattitude]

Our student handbook explicitly states that both intimidation and threats are grounds for dismissal. As much as this student deserves to be dismissed from the program and barred from nursing, I don't want to feel THAT unsafe. We're eleven weeks from graduation and he'd have nothing to lose (relative to his education) is he was dismissed.

I understand why you would hesitate to have him kicked out now. But please be careful for the next 11 weeks, watch your back and come on back to NY when you graduate. You'll have 1 nurse friend already here o.k.?

[RNOCN2311]

Wow, that's horrible. I'd not have any problems getting him kicked out! If he thinks he is going to be a nurse he better learn compassion and tolerance. You don't get to pick your paitents race, gender, sexual prefrence and you don't have the right to treat them differently regardless of your personal view. Sad to hear someone like that is going to be a nurse. Be careful and Watch your back!

I don't think the hospital would take to kindly to you getting out of your contract, most likely they will want their money back.

We have gay employees in our hospital, no one cares to my knowledge. We've got nurses of all shapes, sizes and colors, works out just fine. Mind you, that's my opinion, I can't speak for everyone else's views. I'm sure we have our share or racists and homophobes, they just don't socialize with me. :)

Good luck.

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

Kan (and everyone else),

Thank you for your kind words of support. I would be lying to you if I didn't say that, at times, I wonder if these incidents are "much ado about nothing." I left a career in the performing arts to join the Peace Corps because of my sincere interest in helping others. That experience lead me to nursing school. If I were to pursue getting out of my contract in order to move back to New York, my classmate, in some regards, would have "won." At the same time, I have fought the good fight before and, well, it doesn't seem to matter. Interestingly, the head of security at the hospital was at my meeting with the director and he decided to remind me, without taking sides, that my classmate represents a cross-section of the community which I will serve. Need I say more?

?!?!?!?!?!

"he represents a crossection of the community you will serve?" ?! Well YOU aren't the one making threats here are ya? I'm having a hard time thinking in anything printable at this point.

What about the fact that YOU represent a cross section of the community HE will serve if he graduates and is licensed? And we've seen how HE reacts to YOU, by making death threats! I think most BON's have some reservations with licensing individuals who have demonstrated that they take advantage of vulnerable people, or those who commit hate crimes. While he hasn't committed a crime yet, per se, a restraining order would help show a tendency. Definitely get one.