Nurse fired for calling police

[Runman1914]

Last year while eating at local restuarant i witnessed an irate customer being removed by police for screaming at the staff. Last month i witness a patient daughter screaming at staff for more than a week , security called almost every day. She was 10 times worse than the restuarant customer. Each day the nurse manager and administration kissed her butt and apologized. She would make a scene , throw things, etc...

Everyday she was given a new nurse. Nurses were calling off like crazy to avoid this unpleaseasble daughter. Finally after multiple problems with this daughter it came to a head. She came into the nursing station and began to throw things. The charge nurse called the police and she had to be removed kicking and screaming. One week later the nurse was fired for not handling it internally!!!

[beepbeep]

Ouch. Something isn't right here.

[achot chavi]

I agree, when a patient or family member or another nurse or nurse crosses the line and physically attacks someone, of course the police should be called....

But, I am sorry, I do support the firing of a nurse who acts against the hospital's policies and rules. Given the change in attitudes, it should be one of the questions you ask during orientation. And if you do not like the answer, don't let the door hit your *** on the way out. No one is forcing you to remain with an employer whose rules you don't support and whom you do not believe supports you as a nurse.

Woody:twocents:

OK does anyone else notice that the first part and the second are not congruent? On the one hand we all agree that when a nurse if physically attacked she must be protected- by the police or her employer. This nurse was fired (according to her) for calling the police as she needed protection. I'd like to see the facilities written policy that states that when a nurse is being attacked physically by a patient or family member or a co-worker, she is forbidden to call the police for help. If there is- then what is their alternate policy?

BTW I do agree that if the facility is so unsupportive- then good riddance!!

[RetiredTooSoon]

To my surprise, Exec Management instructed me to quietly give these folks one warning, then remove them from the waiting room and dismiss them from the practice.

My GP's office has signs everywhere that disrespectful behaviour will not be tolerated toward any of the staff or other patients. Anyone displaying such behaviour will be removed from the clinical practice.

I wish my manager had the same guts; we were told we were to 'tolerate' a patient threatening to choke us and worse. She was later fired, but not for the above. Still, it was a happy day.

[ShayRN]

I have called the police twice at my currant facility. The first time I saw a car pull back by the dumpster and watched the people get out then disappear into the woods. Stupidly, I went out to look inside and saw many bow and arrows and a gun. Turns out they were visiting a patient and he told them to park in the back and he would let them in. [They were hunters] The second time was when a brother and sister were fighting in the hallway because he felt we were "starving" his mom to death. (End stage lung cancer) He crawled over a family member to punch his sister in the face. Not only did I NOT get fired, we soon go panic buttons on chains to wear around our neck for OUR PROTECTION after hours.

[nuangel1, BSN, RN]

I agree, when a patient or family member or another nurse or nurse crosses the line and physically attacks someone, of course the police should be called. And yes, I do support unions. I believe one of the worse things that happened to this country was when the bill of goods was sold to us, in a lost attempt to save jobs. But that is another thread, on a different host.

But, I am sorry, I do support the firing of a nurse who acts against the hospital's policies and rules. Given the change in attitudes, it should be one of the questions you ask during orientation. And if you do not like the answer, don't let the door hit your *** on the way out. No one is forcing you to remain with an employer whose rules you don't support and whom you do not believe supports you as a nurse.

Woody:twocents:

per osha the hospitals are required to maintain a SAFE environment for the staff to work .it is mandated if the nurse who said both security and admin were aware of this situation with the family and did nothing to provide safety for this nurse staff and other people on the floor then regardless of hospitals said policy .i would report the hospital to osha and get a lawyer .yes we have a right to SAFETY in our environs.and i do work in a union hospital.you are sooo wrong !!!!

[morte, LPN, LVN]

as far as blindly following orders, i think the Nuremberg trials had some comment on that......

[MN BigJ]

In a case where the "private security" is unable to handle the situation there is no reason the police cannot arrest someone for disorderly conduct if they are disorderly. Private property or not. I have people arrested from the ER when the are disorderly or threatening a lot. There are laws, atleast in MN, that protect medical staff, hospital staff, EMS.

If someone is doing something illegal the police can arrest them where ever they may be. Maybe in FL it is different, but then I'm glad I live in MN.

[Atheos]

In a case where the "private security" is unable to handle the situation there is no reason the police cannot arrest someone for disorderly conduct if they are disorderly. Private property or not. I have people arrested from the ER when the are disorderly or threatening a lot. There are laws, atleast in MN, that protect medical staff, hospital staff, EMS.

If someone is doing something illegal the police can arrest them where ever they may be. Maybe in FL it is different, but then I'm glad I live in MN.

Heck, I'll arrest them and detain them myself! We can do that where I am. Then I'll call the police.

[bobnurse]

I wonder what type of training if any this charge nurse has recieved on handling difficult situations such as this. I would think she has a good case for wrongful termination.

I think she was tired of nothing being done and did not call security because it has been done time after time with no resolve. I have not read this whole thread but wonder what kind of hospital/facility it was. It seems the nurse took it upon herself to "Show" the family member that she cannot treat them like that.

I do believe she acted inappropriately by calling the police before internal security. I also believe the hospital/administrative staff was negligent by placing the staff at risk for violence, whether physical, mental and/or verbal.

I hope she fights back and wins.

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

I wonder what type of training if any this charge nurse has recieved on handling difficult situations such as this. I would think she has a good case for wrongful termination.

I think she was tired of nothing being done and did not call security because it has been done time after time with no resolve. I have not read this whole thread but wonder what kind of hospital/facility it was. It seems the nurse took it upon herself to "Show" the family member that she cannot treat them like that.

I do believe she acted inappropriately by calling the police before internal security. I also believe the hospital/administrative staff was negligent by placing the staff at risk for violence, whether physical, mental and/or verbal.

I hope she fights back and wins.

I hope she fights back and wins too! BUT, I still think that calling the police was correct under the circumstances. There's nothing quite like seeing 5 hefty security guards attempting to subdue an ER drunk or drug abuser....it's amazing how quickly that same pattient falls into line when the man with the gun shows up.

Sorry....healthcare workers and patients need to be protected from nuts.

JMHO again and again:rolleyes:

Maisy

[advocateforsafety]

Last year while eating at local restuarant i witnessed an irate customer being removed by police for screaming at the staff. Last month i witness a patient daughter screaming at staff for more than a week , security called almost every day. She was 10 times worse than the restuarant customer. Each day the nurse manager and administration kissed her butt and apologized. She would make a scene , throw things, etc...

Everyday she was given a new nurse. Nurses were calling off like crazy to avoid this unpleaseasble daughter. Finally after multiple problems with this daughter it came to a head. She came into the nursing station and began to throw things. The charge nurse called the police and she had to be removed kicking and screaming. One week later the nurse was fired for not handling it internally!!!

You need to get an attorney. They may have a policy that directs you to call security but they as you have stated had multiple chances to correct this person behavior and failed to do it. I believe you will have case. The only way we as nurses are going to improve our work environment is to hold our administrators accountable. Maybe they need to be as concerned with us (nurses) suing them as well. It unfortunate that they have to be made to do the right thing but it has come to that. I am always saying that hospitals are the last safe haven for abusers and thugs.

[achot chavi]

Thanks to this post, I have requested a clearer policy for situations where my staff is harassed- either physically , verbally or sexually -(unfortunately I got no where with mental abuse).

We now get to call security and send the offenders to our facility director as a first line of action . In the event that neither are available for whatever reason we can then call the police.

Then if we cant get the offender to leave, we must all leave the room where the offender is and take all patients out with us - We may only restrain or react physically to the offender if we deem it necessary but we will have to give a report on that later and hope the hidden cameras back us up.

Verbal abuse should be reported in writing to the director who will call the offender in his office for a meeting and write a protocol of that meeting.

Repeat offenders will be asked to find another facility.

Our SW who is also head of abuse committee must be given a written report of all abuse ASAP. She will involve the court for a restraining order or involve our in-ouse psychologist if necessary. She also will arrange a meeting (and keep written protocol) with all the involved parties. A copy of the protocol will be distributed to all involved parties for future reference.

The incident will be discussed at the following abuse committee

We all feel comfortable with these rules.