Nurse fired for calling police

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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!!!

Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
woody, your logic makes my head hurt :banghead:! i mean...you keep saying: "....unless someone is being physically attacked..." ; yet *you* yourself *was* physically attacked (even thrown through a plate glass window/door) & you just left it up to your supervisor &/or security to make that 911 call? that makes *no* :no: logical sense what so ever...sorry :zzzzz!

:up: the police need & should be called *before* any physical attacks occurs. one strike/blow could be just the thing which actually *ends* somebody's life! next you'll blame :argue: the victim for not getting out of the way fast enough :rolleyes:!

:banghead: just think about what you're trying to say woody - *please*!!!

cheers :cheers:,

moe

no, i would do what my hospitals written policy was. and generally, that policy does not give authority to a staff or charge nurse to summon the police. and security had been summonded shortly before the arrival of the young man. and the albany police department had been called by the er physician, in the second case. i don't even know if that gun was loaded. i was too busy trying to keep my cool, stopping them from peering behind another curtain (and finding the wife) and talking them in to handing over the gun. i had to tesify at both trials. and to be honest, i wanted none of the three young men to get that much jail time. all three of them were experiencing severe trauma, in their lives, two with a brother who was dying. it happen long before witness impact statements but i did write a letter to the judge. unlike many, i tend to look at the glass half full.

woody:twocents:

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

This is getting so unnecessarily convoluted.

An individual has the inherent right to call for the assistance of law enforcement. Private property exists within a larger community in which law enforcement has jurisdiction.

Woody, if you don't feel the need to call law enforcement when you & unprotected vulnerable patients are confronted with someone who is out of control and visibly armed ... knock yourself out.

Much more sensible to rely on the help of trained, equipped police officers.

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

My hospital can take their policies and stick them where the sun doesn't shine. I have a loving husband and two beautiful children at home. I will do whatever I feel necessary to keep myself safe and to come home in one piece every night.

BTW, Yes, I would have filed police charges if a patient in their right mind slapped me.

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People are going to continue get away with this kind of behavior if they know it's going to be allowed. Kudos to this nurse for doing the right thing....and I hope she gets her day in court.

I wonder if the visitor came in drunk or high. Chances are, they did.

Also, it could be that those in charge were afraid to take any action because this person is a racial minority and they didn't want to be sued for discrimination.

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I wonder if the visitor came in drunk or high. Chances are, they did.

Also, it could be that those in charge were afraid to take any action because this person is a racial minority and they didn't want to be sued for discrimination.

:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle

I'm sorry, that just strikes me silly. Everyone is still afraid of us racial minorities. Now it's just called fear of being sued. *Choke*

It sounds more like they are afraid of losing that customer's money and that it is more important than an employee to them.

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.

Sorry, you can't have me arrested. I didn't slap the idot nurse. I just threat to. And she was an idot. She blew a stick, in the back of my hand, instead of removing the needle, she continued to jab around, underneath my skin, "I know I can find a vein". Idot, idot, idot. Heaven save me from nurses who will not admit when they have done something wrong. I asked her three times to stop, each time in a louder voice. The last time, I shouted "Stop digging in the back of my hand or I will slap you!" She stopped. And I got a ER physician and another RN in the room immediately. And a need line in my arm. Listen, patients do have rights despite the fact that a great many nurses seem to ignore them. I have the right to refuse procedures, lab draws, IV starts, medications, treatments, even to be ambulated. You have the right to report my refusal to my treating physicians. You do not have any other rights unless I am mentally ill and in danger of harming myself or others, yourselves included. Then you may restrain me physically or chemically.

If a family member verbval assualts you, you can report it to security and your supervisor, according to your hospital's policy. If your hospital's policy allows you to call the police, you can do so. If it doesn't and you do, accept your punishment and move on. Or don't you believe that anyone who committs a wrong shouldn't have to face action for their wrong doing.

This discussion has gone off, in several different directions. What upsets me the most is the attitude of some nurses that they have rights far and above anyone elses.:banghead: They feel they do not have to follow hospital polciy. They feel they can make decisions independently, on hteir own. If you want hat type of power, please do not work for a facility that has written policies. They have them for aa reason, to protect themselves, protect patients and visitors and to protect YOU, whatever or not you want to believe it. Step outside the guideline and policies, you will pay.

Woody:twocents:

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Sorry, you can't have me arrested.

Actually, they could have you arrested. Threatening to do violence is assault. You could try to complain it was because the nurse did x, y and z but it will not make a difference. They ingredient in 'self-defense' is 'could you get away?' and unless you were restrained or dying or otherwise unable to get up a leave or move your hand then your plea would fall on deaf ears.

The rules that apply for everyone else in this country apply for nurses. Yes employers can fire you for anything. Bad employers do fire you for anything. A policy can not dictate when to and not to call the police. It is unethical and in some cases may be illegal.

People are more upset at your harsh words and judgmental sounding post and not your view. No one is denigrating your view so much as your delivery. Instead of taking it to heart and getting aggressive try to moderate your delivery and not sound so harsh. That is what set off this entire off topic branch.

Just an opinion...

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Specializes in dialysis (mostly) some L&D, Rehab/LTC.
I have the right to refuse procedures, lab draws, IV starts, medications, treatments, even to be ambulated. You have the right to report my refusal to my treating physicians. You do not have any other rights unless I am mentally ill and in danger of harming myself or others, yourselves included. Then you may restrain me physically or chemically.

Yeh ya do...so stay home and don't waste the staff's time... treat people that want help...but then that's another story also...:twocents:

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i work for a psych facility. not only do we not call the police but we are instructed not to call an ambulance before contacting our administrative officer. fortunately, i have not had the need.

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I'm pleased to read that 99.999999% of the nurses here know that if they feel a situation warrants the police they will call. I know several nurses that have called under dire circumstances and none faced consequences. On the contrary we are told to protect our patients, our co-workers, and ourselves at all times. We are advocates for our patients during a time where they cannot pretect themselves. If you need help you dial 911. That'w what they are there for. Our rights don't end when we walk into a hospital.

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Specializes in Me Surge.

Woody must not be reading the same post as the rest of us. Security had already been called and did nothing. Then police were called. If proper channels do nothing then you gotta do what you gotta do.

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Specializes in CT ,ICU,CCU,Tele,ED,Hospice.

woody while i appreciate your veiw and opinion which you have a right to.i do to.read the post better the supervisor and security were called .the nurse had the right to protect herself and others .i would not hesitate to call police and have them escorted off the property until the visitor could behave.my safety and my pts come first to any policy of hospital .i work in a busy ed .we only have 1 security guard on off shifts weekends and holidays.so if pt's or vistors get out of control we do call the local police .and they stand up for us.its not your veiw that is irritating and angering people here but the way you come across as jugmental and a know it all to the rest of us.

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