I refuse to be a punching bag - NO MORE ASSAULT

Nurses Relations

Published

I am writing this post because I am trying to empower all nurses regardless of title to stand up to this mentality that we have to take abuse.

Where did this myth come from? Why is it that we are seen as punching bags and sounding boards for the crazy and insane?

After taking my fair share of abuse and assault over the years, I have taken a stand - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH NO MORE!!!

Like many nurses, I used to think that being slapped, punched, bit, scratched, hair pulled, poked, spit on, yelled at, cursed out and assaulted in general was just part of our job. Nursing school teaches (indirectly) to be submissive and subservient to your higher ranking employee's and the institution you may work for. The overall nursing workplace politics are such that the bedside nurse is the target/victim of all things under the sun and as nurses we are supposed to take it - "If you have integrity you will thing of this as a learning experience".

I have news for everyone - NO MORE!

The fact that nurse assault/abuse posts are so little discussed is a major issue to me. We all need to step up and face this issue.

And face it with realism and honesty - No more justifications for the patient or there friends. So what if they are under stress! Does being under stress justify assaulting the person who is trying to help the situation? Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Just because the patient has a terminal diagnosis does not justify them from hitting the nurse.

We as a profession need to challenge this myth that we are expected to take assault.

I for one refuse to allow any patient to lay a finger on me without appropriate consequences. Sometimes its the show of force from security (our security are ex-cops with Tasers, billyclubs, and mace - you do NOT want to mess with them).

I am begging for open discussion on this issue - Stand up and empower yourselves and your profession. Assault is assault - If a patient is confused and assaulted you and you have a broken nose, does that lessen the pain or the implications from being victimized? -NO!!!

Lets all discuss this and realize that we are not to be taking this on the job. We all have had horror stories. We all need to stop making excuses / justifications.

Someone hits you or bites you and your response is that you "do not appreciate their behavior"?

No, that's not correct. Every state has statutes which make it a specific crime to assault a police officer. Most states similarly protect fire fighters and EMS workers. Twenty states, most recently Virginia, have enacted legislation which specifically cover emergency department staff including physicians and nurses. That means 30 states are not yet on board with this concept ... for nurses or for physicians.

I'm sure there are federal codes which apply to the assualt of federal law enforcement officers such as Border Patrol, Federal Marshals, Customs agents, etc.

What would you have me do in a LTC? Call the police?that will look great to my boss

Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

I really judge this on a case by case basis. I have had to call the cops on family members and will again. Abuse by them I will NEVER tolerate. Had a patient just the other night grab my neck and try to strangle me, he was so confused he didn't even know his own name. I am SURE if he was with it that never would have happened and I would never hold it against him.

I agree. I cannot believe that you all get in trouble for make trouble for the hospital that you work for if you press charges. Assualt is assualt, how can they say a nurse is any different from a fireman, police officer, or a Doctor getting assulted? To me It is worse because you deal with the family more.

Specializes in Med./Surg., Diabetes, Med. ICU, home hea.
I agree. I cannot believe that you all get in trouble for make trouble for the hospital that you work for if you press charges. Assualt is assualt, how can they say a nurse is any different from a fireman, police officer, or a Doctor getting assulted? To me It is worse because you deal with the family more.

Then you either haven't been around or are one of the luckiest nurses! Definately stay out of psychiatric nursing...

To OP. I agree. I was once kicked in the heart by a 200 lb. man. I mean right between the breasts with hard soled shoes. It hurt!!

Specializes in cna.

I am a CNA and I am sick of the abuse as well. I recently quit a job because it was so much absue. I was pregnant and could not jeopardize my or my unborn child's health. The place where I worked did not really care about the combative patients assaulting us either.

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.

I am also surprised at the reported level of physical abuse here. I have never been physically assaulted in the slightest while working in acute care. (Working with sound mind, A + O x 3 patients). If a patients appears to be escalating towards violence or inappropriate verbal behaviour, we immediately call a "code white" and the team will be there ASAP.

Mind you, I don't work in the ER and that is where you hear most of the code whites called for.

I have had minor scratches and attempts to hit from the elderly and dementia residents in LTC, but I don't hold them at fault. It's their dementia. As long as they are safe and covered, we leave the room and try their care again 1/2 hour later.

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Ogopogo,

You're right that a lot of it happens in the ED. We get them while still high or intoxicated, often both. The assaults tend to come before we can get them down or sedated.

As for the A&O ones, there are some extremely stressed out situations, where people are scared + angry + helpless and trying to control things that are out of their control. Doesn't really excuse them, but does make us wary!

Then, there are the total jerks who think just because we are in a hospital and not likely to knock them flat, are flat out bullies and love throwing their weight around, verbally or physically.

Specializes in being a Credible Source.
If a patients appears to be escalating towards violence or inappropriate verbal behaviour, we immediately call a "code white" and the team will be there ASAP.
We don't have a team... and at night, only a few staff in the hospital at all.
Specializes in public health.
I am in total favor of the OP! Yes treating the patients is TOP priority, however, some may argue that we cannot walk away from a bleeding person because they are combative and the old grandma because she scratched us, we are a class of working society that is already overworked, at times frowned upon, and arguably, under-paid. Just like if you walk through airport-security, there's a level of respect and cooperation. When you're on an aircraft, you can't expect to spit or hit a flight attendant because your bags cannot fit and you have gate check it instead, and get away with it. And they're there to service you and assist in an emergency - those days (of assaulting airline employees) are over! Nurses must follow-suit!! #IJS

very true - most people wouldn't dream of assaulting a flight attendant (whose job IS to bring you things to eat/drink and keep you comfortable) or swearing at a TSA for fear of being charged with a federal crime. Everyone knows the consequences are quick & severe. Why shouldn't there be some sort of protection in place for nurses, PCA's, etc? I don't know what the solution is but I do know that nurses & other caregivers shouldn't have to worry about their personal safety on top of all of the other job stresses.

+ Add a Comment