New nurse here...slapped today by patient.

[Bonny619]

So...I'm a new RN, still in orientation mode. I was starting an IV on a patient, my primary nurse was present as well as a student we had with us. The patient's husband was also present.

I started the IV, I was getting ready to place the tegaderm on and BAM.

She slapped me straight across the face...pretty hard too. No mark, but it stung. I just left the room immediately, that was my first instinct. My primary nurse was dealing with the patient.

Anyway, the patient was an older lady....77, but she was A/O x3. NOT a confused patient, she later said she thought we were just "playing with her" I'm assuming she thought this because the student was watching? I don't know. She knew we needed to start a new IV, her IV infiltrated.

So, my question is this....at what point does a nurse actually look at a situation as being assaulted. If this lady slapped me across the face in the middle of the grocery store, I would have called the police.

What is that fine line? What if she bruised my face? Is that different?

Any advice is appreciated.

[bethin]

So, my question is this....at what point does a nurse actually look at a situation as being assaulted. If this lady slapped me across the face in the middle of the grocery store, I would have called the police.

I think you just answered your own question.

You were helping your pt. If you were in the grocery store and someone helped you, would you then slap them? I'm confused by her stating that she thought you were playing with her. What part of inserting an IV is playing?

I'd file charges. Your pt was A&O x3. There's no excuse. I'll try to say this gently without getting flamed - you can file, but *some* law enforcement individuals and/or the public will look at her as a victim and might treat her differently than if a 25yo male slapped you. But, even if this is the case, I'd still file just to have it on record.

[EmmaG, RN]

I agree. If nothing else, it will make her think twice before assaulting another nurse. :angryfire

[Batman24]

I want to know what happened after you left that room. What did the patient say? What did she do? What about her husband? The nursing student? Your boss? your preceptor? What did you do after you left the room?

I'd like to know these things too. Did you file an incident report?! If you want to press charges do it. Sounds like you have a legitimate case?!

[Batman24]

I am sorry to say you will have to look out for yourself here. I was hit by a patient during a bed bath when I was in nursing school, and when I told my instructor I was uncomfortable going back in this man's room, she proceeded to assign me to him every day for the rest of my rotation to teach me a lesson. She also told me, in a later rotation, in front of other students, that she didn't understand why I "had such a problem with his personality." I didn't have a problem with his personality, I had a problem with getting hit! Moral of the story is that, as much as it sucks, you are probably the only one who will stand up for you. If she was A&Ox3, I'd do whatever you can to at least avoid taking care of her again, even if you don't press charges.

This is why I work with babies.

If you had to do it all over again would you have pressed charges or been more adamant about not going back into the room?! Just curious as I am a NS now and it seems students are really afraid to stand up for themselves for fear of failing. It's a shame that safety doesn't always come first. Teach you a lesson?! I guess it was on how to be abused.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

If you had to do it all over again would you have pressed charges or been more adamant about not going back into the room?! Just curious as I am a NS now and it seems students are really afraid to stand up for themselves for fear of failing. It's a shame that safety doesn't always come first. Teach you a lesson?! I guess it was on how to be abused.

In my case, the man was somewhat confused, so I would not have pressed charges. It wasn't that I *blamed* him or didn't like him, I just didn't feel safe in there. This was my very first med-surg rotation, like three weeks into nursing school. I just had NO idea what to do. I also tried to explain to my CI that because of certain events in my life, I have a very, very strong reaction to a man hitting me. No dice. She didn't try to help at all, didn't try to explain how to minimize the possibility of him hitting me OR figure out how to not let it bother me so much. Just get back in there. Oh, and two weeks later she made me put a Foley in him. I'm lucky he didn't try to kick me in the throat.

[Batman24]

In my case, the man was somewhat confused, so I would not have pressed charges. It wasn't that I *blamed* him or didn't like him, I just didn't feel safe in there. This was my very first med-surg rotation, like three weeks into nursing school. I just had NO idea what to do. I also tried to explain to my CI that because of certain events in my life, I have a very, very strong reaction to a man hitting me. No dice. She didn't try to help at all, didn't try to explain how to minimize the possibility of him hitting me OR figure out how to not let it bother me so much. Just get back in there. Oh, and two weeks later she made me put a Foley in him. I'm lucky he didn't try to kick me in the throat.

If he's not of sound mind I wouldn't press charges either. It's the people who abuse and are of sound mind that should be held criminally accountable. It's a shame hospitals like to sweep it under the rug.

That's awful that she didn't help you out. Least she could have done was split him up amongst all the students to give you a break. She doesn't sound very compassionate to your history either. That's sad.

[nyapa, RN]

I was hit by a patient during a bed bath when I was in nursing school, and when I told my instructor I was uncomfortable going back in this man's room, she proceeded to assign me to him every day for the rest of my rotation to teach me a lesson.

There's only one word for that - disgraceful. You poor thing. That instructor should be hung out to dry, I hope he/she is not still being let loose on unsuspecting students...

[TazziRN, RN]

Getting back to the OP, I'm wondering why she thought it was okay to hit if she honestly thought you were playing. If she hit other kids during play when she was a child, then she was a bully. If her husband said nothing while you were in there, didn't even react, then she probably still is a bully. Press charges. If nothing else it will let her know that you won't stand for it.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Un-freakin-believable.

OP, please, please file an incident report if you haven't already. Include details about the presence of sharps, if any (you had just started an IV), that she was A&O, who else was present during this incident, etc.

And please update us on what else happened.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

So, my question is this....at what point does a nurse actually look at a situation as being assaulted. If this lady slapped me across the face in the middle of the grocery store, I would have called the police.

What is that fine line? What if she bruised my face? Is that different?

Any advice is appreciated.

There is no fine line here. The legal definition of assault and/or battery does not require bruising or injury.

[GingerSue]

completely inappropriate and unacceptable for her to slap you

(it is battery)

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I would consider it assault and proceed accordingly. EVERYONE deserves to work in a safe environment.