LTC workplace violence

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2006

Calling 911 was very appropriate!! I would have done or asked another to do it at the first sign of aggression. I to work in a facility which is in an isolated area and its small. There is no security, no big aids or nurses or anyone in the building. All I have is 911.

What did management think you should have done? Stand there and take a potential beating? Put the residents at risk?

KeithEMU · Apr 13, 2006

You did exactly what you should have done. If someone had been hurt, does your facility want to pay for the law suit, not to mention your medical bills and workers comp? These people don't seem to be all there to be mad. If they want security handled in house then they should hire security.

Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2006

I think I am working in hell. My latest thread was R/T a nurse diverting drugs. Management will not do anything. Tuesday night we had a problem with a CNA. The supervisor and I was reprimending her on taking a break while leaving a hoyer lift patient on the toliet. The patient is a double amputee also. The CNA thought her behavior was fine. Anywho she started going off verbally to the supervisor. She threatened to hurt her and for some strange reason started slamming her body towards the supervisor. I intercepted and put myself between the two. In the meantime the supervisor called 911. We were unable to escort CNA out of building but she may have been lurking about. This was @1930. Alot of my residents heard this scene. It was very disurbing. We do not have any security in our facility. This is not the first time a situation like this happened. This was a very violent situation. We have no protection at all. Only our phones. I was interviewed yesterday and they told me they were upset that supervisor called 911. I told them she had every right to do so with the assult with battery she was subjected to. I know I need to get the heck out of this place. Jobs in this area are not so easy to find. I make good money and love my patients. I am not to fond of management. What do you guys think about workplace violence in LTC. Let me know what you think. I personaly think it is a scary situation for us nurses. BTW I work a few miles out in north burb of milwaukee wisconsin.

Workplace violence shouldn't be. Management really needs to pick up the ball on this one. she had every right to call 911.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Apr 13, 2006

We had workplace violence, and many thefts (especially our cars, and management would not fix the camera that was placed in that far away lot we HAD to park in!).

One night, as I was getting off shift a person came in wanting to see one of the CNA's. Management knew this person was violent and the CNA had a restrianing order on him. Okay would be good to tell the charge nurse that since I was the person in charge of the facility at that hour~! I got the CNA and she immediately called 9-11. So here I am talking to this guy, waiting for the CNA and all the sudden cops are at the door and this guy was ticked! And me...standing near him! He had a gun in his pocket, but thank GOD he didn't grab at me! He was escorted out with no further trouble.

I was sooooooo ticked! I warned if there was not going to be security or communication around here I was leaving that week! They hired a 24 hour maintenence guy to play "security" (poor guy!), and called that fair. I lasted another month and left.

It really scared me! And I fear for some of the residents too who have violent family who visit when they need money (proably for drugs!). All facilities should have 24 hour security of some sort! I have had a family member punch me that was high on crack before..not cool! Believe me they were escorted out by police and never can return!!! (and no...I didn't hit them or retailate...but I wanted to soooooo bad!).

Josifek · Apr 25, 2006

This is not a personal experience but in the city where I currently live there was an incidence a few years ago where a CNA met two nurses in the parking lot after shift change and shot them killing at least one. I'm not one to normally go around calling the cops but after this occurence I would say if you feel at all threatened to call them.

indigo girl · Apr 25, 2006

I have worked in many inner city LTC's on 11 to 7 shift. I would not hesitate to call 911 if my gut told me it needed to be done. I would also document the behavior of a violent staff member or visitor in an incident report. Usually, I'm in charge of the building and the staff so it is my responsibility to make sure that everyone is safe.

You did the right thing.

LoriAlabamaRN · Apr 25, 2006

I've had two experiences with this sort of thing... our facility supply clerk who was this quiet little guy, in his 50s. Recovering alcoholic. Anyway, he was having an affair with this LPN that works here, she was just using him for cash. Got him to sell his truck and buy her a diamond ring, then dumped him. He showed up at our facility drunk as a skunk one evening, screaming that he was in Vietnam. Tried to strangle one of the maintenance men who was attempting to force him out of the building. Police were called. Very sad situation, he was a sweet little guy.

Second one was a young man I had to fire (a CNA). My office is very small, and when he realized I was really firing him, he jumped up from his chair and leaned over me breathing real heavy like a gorilla or something. I was frightened, but he didn't hit me, just turned, flipped my table against the wall and slammed my door hard enough to break it on his way out. I had two male nurses working that night who were mroe than happy to escort him from the premises, and I didn't need to call the police.

We don't have security, but our doors do lock automatically when shut and require a badge to get back in. Of course, sometimes the employees themselves are the ones you have to fear.

Scary world we live in...

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Apr 25, 2006

If you feel threatened you should call 911 regardless of managements opinion. You only have one life to live and they are obviously not willing to protect it. You were both absolutely correct in your actions, and the manager who said you weren't is an imbecile.

KeithEMU · Apr 26, 2006

My mistake, Message removed.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Apr 26, 2006

Post removed.