Harassment at work, patient to staff

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

needless to say, i totally agree with most previous statements. therefore, one has to consider the situation first, as well as the patient who is committing the act. with that said, i can't wait till the stop violence against medical staff law, it's implemented in all states!

al586

81 Posts

That is the reason that I recommend that your ALWAYS make a copy of all incident reports, because they have a tendency to disappear when management is called on the carpet to explain situations.

You do not have to tell anyone that you made copies of the incident reports. It will be your little secret. Your, "ace in the hole".

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

I totally agree with this...incident reports have a tendency to disappear where I work as well!

CapeCodMermaid, RN

6,090 Posts

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Your 'little secret' is a clear violation of HIPAA laws. If your incident reports disappear, you have more problems than a nasty resident. Incident reports are internal documents that are supposed to be used to determine the cause of an incident and then discussed so it doesn't happen again. Lawyers can not see them...family members can not see them.

Thank you everyone for your comments. It truly makes me feel like someone cares if only out in the web

This resident's main problem is short term memory loss due to brain injury. Claims they aren't getting their meds even after staff witnesses taking them. Humiliating me in front of my staff and other residents. Resident is alert and oriented to person and place. Ambulates independently, remembers what time Bingo is, is independant w/ADL's, you get the idea... Lately even after signing they received them, accusing me of stealing them! Then they repeatedly stand over me yelling cursing threatening me interrupting the rest of my med pass. Of course this is early morning med pass and no one is around to see this except me and my CNA's.

It's happened to other nurses, others besides myself have charted on it so it's not only me. But staff does say it's worse with me. Perhaps because I have been there several years and they have gotten away with this treatment of me before. I do not want a reassignment if I can help it, would prefer getting this resident some treatment, be it meds or behavior program, whatever. I just want it to STOP! I have come to hate going to work, knowing what I have to put up with.

I LOVE being a nurse and coming up on 25yrs this year. These problems have almost made me hang up my stethoscope for good. But I'm not a quitter!

Good day everyone and God Speed

CapeCodMermaid, RN

6,090 Posts

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Make sure all these behaviors are documented in his care plan. People with brain injuries are some of the hardest to deal with.You realize that none of this is aimed at you personally. Always have a witness when you go in the room. Other than that, there's not much else you can do.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B

9 Articles; 4,800 Posts

Have them write out a florescent index card with "I took my meds today". After pt takes them, you give pt a card in their own handwriting. When he takes his meds, have a co-signer. May even be worth it to take out med cards in front of patient, have patient look and verify they are patient's meds, say "this is for your blood pressure, this is for....." then co-inital with you and another staff person. Few minutes later, he comes back and ready for a battle? Pt. really doesn't remember taking them--"LOOK at your card in your pocket, it helps me to remember you took them too!" Or," look, here's your initials under this date!" Also, while you are implementing this, perhaps a family member can come by each day at med time to help re-enforce that pt got their meds- until this becomes a habit, and less stressful for the patient. Sometimes with brain injured patients, they have an extreme parinoid flair to them, as well as impulse issues. That patient is oriented, and can do ADL's and remembers when Bingo is, means that with habit, patient will remind themselves that meds were taken by looking for the card in their pocket. Perhaps the facility you work on has a nero/psych unit? Perhaps a transfer there? Or a partner facility? If patient persists with having a meltdown at your expense, perhaps that is the time a CNA suggests that patient accompany them to the activity room, or coffee or some other such distraction......."Patient so and so, nurse needs to work. Let's go talk about what is bugging you in the dining room and have some coffee..." or can med times change for this patient so that patient takes meds then goes immedietely to an activity?

msgirl68

43 Posts

Specializes in NICU, Peds..

Document EVERYTHING!!! Next, talk to a LAWYER!! The lowlife patient and worse yet your management

are creating a HOSTILE work environment and maintaining it! Which is against the law!!

People are crazy, expecting nurses to take care of them, wipe their butts and get abused too?!

We don't have to take it.

Now your own health is being affected, what for??

srimer

6 Posts

I'm not quite sure if you've been educated enough to be able to handle "abuse" in LTC. Most residents are no longer able to control their behaviors, and "verbal abuse" just comes with the territory with dementia / Alzheimer's. Ask your Administrator for an in-service before you go off the deep end. Most of us who have years of experience have learned to smile with the behaviors and realize that that particular person could be a loved one someday, and do we want them medicated just so staff can "deal" with them? I say "no" and so would most state agencies. Keep your chin up and have some humor (it really helps). Or, you may want to consider a career change.

Good luck!

srimer

6 Posts

Wow, such open hostility! I hate to see the facility you work in!!

merrywhiterose

286 Posts

Our LTC facility sends people out to psych facilities if they continue to be a problem. We had one lady that was constantly telling the Director of Nursing & Administrator that all of the workers were doing things that we weren't. She was counseled several times & finally sent out. What a relief to have her gone!

Our LTC facility sends people out to psych facilities if they continue to be a problem.

And how does that help those that have advanced senile or alz. type dementia...who don't know that what they are doing is wrong, and oftentimes are unable to actually stop or modify the behavior?

The patient that the OP is referring to has a brain injury and ST memory loss. Is the verbal assault that he does right? No, however, I doubt that shipping him to psych facility is actually going to do the patient any good.

It seems to me that the behavior is a manifestation of frustration on the patient's part. Why not find reasonable solutions to try to control and minimize the frustration and behavior? Seek out resources that are able to help with the problems associated with brain injuries and develop the care plan accordingly. If all else fails, a referral to a facility that has experience in treating and caring for patients with brain injuries would be appropriate and might be beneficial to the patient.

angie1368

29 Posts

I am a recent lvn grad and i am currently working at an assisted living facility for a month now. Out of the 1 month, i've only worked for 7 days because i am only on call. Out of the 7 days, meds have been thrown to my face, verbally abuse, and been hit twice. Every time i'm about to go to work i feel like having a panic attack. I am terrified of the resident and the work. I have about 60 residents all with dementia ranging from moderate-severe. I know you're not supposed to take it personally but it is affecting me both physically and mentally. I totally feel your pain. I want to quit so bad. I even spoke to my nursing director about giving my 2 week notice, but she said just hang on. Other places are more difficult. I don't know what to do :( i never expected nursing to be like this.

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