Macho Men in the ED

[Jerry 75]

I have worked in 5 ER's as an RN on both East and West Coast. And on both sides of the country you always run into a few Macho Men Nurses in the ED. These are the ones with poor impulse control and poor coping skills and they alway's seem to internalize anything that an angry patient says to them. Quite a few that I have worked with were Homophobic also.

In situatons when Patients are aggressive with me I always try and set limits for acceptable behavior and or defuse the situation butttttttttt............. The Macho men always prefer to do a take down. I avoid a Take Down if I can because someone usually gets injured and there is risk to life and limb and liability issues also. But if all else fails I will be in the mix for the Take down.

The Macho men enjoy pushing the buttons of the already agitated pt. a few notches higher till he escalates and attacks. For what? Is it worth it? Why push the guy's buttons? What if he has a knife or a gun or grabs and IV pole and bashes your brains in alittle or waits for a smaller more vulnerable prey to vent his anger on now that you egged him on?

[Jerry 75]

Orca,

You hit it right on the nose exactly my point!

[Gr8Dane]

I personally have no problems with my homosexual coworkers, they are damn entertaining especially with the patients

And a lot of the time combative patients for whatever reason REQUIRE a stern "macho" attitude from male and female workers even. Can't difuse every case with soft kind words.

Beyond the fact in the real world we simply do not have the time. I am not saying it's ok to be abusive but sometimes a tough approach works out for all involved.

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

I personally have no problems with my homosexual coworkers, they are damn entertaining especially with the patients

And a lot of the time combative patients for whatever reason REQUIRE a stern "macho" attitude from male and female workers even. Can't difuse every case with soft kind words.

Beyond the fact in the real world we simply do not have the time. I am not saying it's ok to be abusive but sometimes a tough approach works out for all involved.

I have to agree with you that sometimes there are certain situations where you need to come in with a no nonsense attitude and let the patient know that you mean business but there is a difference between what your talking about and using your attitude in an abusive way with a patient. I think that the method your referring to is more about demonstrating that your confident your abilities and your purpose as the nurse and that you as the nurse are taking charge of a tense situation in efforts of diffusing it and doing what needs to be done in the best interests of the patient. We just need to remember that being confident, assertive and using what may appear as a "tough approach" is extremely different from acting in a way that is abusive to a patient and causes them to reescalate.

!Chris

[tommytrauma59]

I have been in nursing for 20 years and 18 of it in the ER and have seen the Macho men and the Wonder Women at work in the ER fluffing up their egotistical feathers and causing disruption.

If they would just really apply caring nursing fundamentals instead of acting as if it is a competition of egos, the results would surprise them and maybe even the hospital's satisfaction rate would improve!

[LilgirlRN, ADN, RN]

I could care less if my coworkers are gay or not, male, female just do your effin' job! Often times I can work with the very upset, stressed out because I have a calming sort of personality, I'm talking about work with patients here. We used to have a doc that would go crazy if a drunk guy made a pass at one of us. Sometimes I can work with that angle though, drunk guy isn't gonna try to kill me if he wants to ask me out, lol!

[zoinks22]

Bottom line is this.... When the call is made for all hands on deck to take someone down, are you right there, or do you hide in the back while the "macho man" risks his safety to protect you and others from the psych patient who is threatening to tear the heart out of your chest?

[ArkansasFan]

Sounds like a cop / paramedic would be right at home as an ER nurse.

[Jerry 75]

I think the Hospital should hire only ex cops as security! Nurses are their to Nurse and should not have to get involved in Take Downs.

[ArkansasFan]

I think the Hospital should hire only ex cops as security! Nurses are their to Nurse and should not have to get involved in Take Downs.

Just have HR type that into the "benefits" part of the job package.

I'm just kidding. Of course nurses shouldn't have to do that, but we all know the patient, friendly visitors that come to the ER to see their tax dollars at work. (lots of sarcasm there if it wasn't picked up on lol)

[getoverit, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

A truly macho man will jog home after a vasectomy.....everyone else is a poser.

[Dinith88]

There are WAY more macho-men in the ICU. In fact, we assume every male patient is gay...and when no one is looking we punch them.

[getoverit, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

There are WAY more macho-men in the ICU. In fact, we assume every male patient is gay...and when no one is looking we punch them.

excellent.....this changes EVERYTHING!