Nurse manhandled by doctor

[Scrubby]

Hey guys remember how I was dreading coming to work on Monday? I'm starting to wish I'd called in! Sorry this is a long post!

I've seen doctors verbally abuse nurses, seen them throw tantrums and swear at everyone. Have never seen anyone get physical on a nurse until today.

Well today I could not believe the disgusting behaviour of one doctor.

We had patient who had surgery with a very difficult airway who haemorrhaged. It was awful, patient thrashing around, only two of us nurses and a nursing student who were trying to keep him from falling out of the bed. Nurse rushing around trying to bet airway stuff etc. Patient lost control of bowels, bladder very messy, situation. Then it got worse.

The other nurse was next to the doctor trying to staunch bleeding from wound and keep patients arms from thrashing. I was at the end of the bed trying to manage the legs, nursing student next to me. Both of us saw to the whole thing.

The doctor just lost the plot completely. He manhandled the nurse (dare I say assault!), grabbed her right arm and started yanking it towards him (we have no idea what he actually wanted from her something to do with airway assistance probably, no verbal communication here) in a violent manner. He nearly had her off her feet, really pulling her in towards in hard by her wrist with both his arms. It's had to describe this but his whole body was sort of involved with yanking her towards him . The look on his face was pretty scarey, nursing student said he looked as though 'he wanted to eat her alive', I 100% believe the man just lost his temper completely and took it out on her because he looked so incredibly angry.

The nurse (victim) handled it well at the time, didn't yell at him (I probably would have) but when the crisis was over she was really in a state. Could not stand, had to sit with her head down. She had to go home early which I encouraged her to do.

I told her I witnessed the entire incident, that whatever she wanted to do about it I will verify because I saw the whole thing. She reported it to our CNC. CNC's response to this abuse was pretty much 'heat of the moment', 'patient comes first'. You need to speak with the doctor about it yourself'.'Just monitor your wrist and if it's injured we'll take it up further. No mention of incident reports, documenting this assault.

Ok so it was a crisis. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR PHYSICAL INTIMIDATION! How on earth are we to focus appropriately in this situation if doctors are going to manhandle us, potentially cause us injury and give us all post traumatic stress disorder? How is this good for the patient?I was so angry all day I too left early to see a staff counsellor because I could just not cope with any more crap today at work. I needed to let it all out instead of taking it home and having my workplace problems affect my relationship like it's been doing of late.

Before I left I filed a report on the whole thing. Instead of an incident report I filled out a risk register report. The reason being is that our CNC deals with all the incident reports and I don't want anyone no matter what their status handling this if they think 'it's ok, heat of the moment'. I strongly believe his behavior put every nurse in that room at risk because he was just out of control and it put the patient at risk because we weren't fully focused on the patient.

If this doctor had of apologised afterwards it wouldn't have changed me reporting him, but it would have made a huge difference to how we all felt the rest of the day.

And what a great experience for the poor nursing student. Afterwards she asked me is this is acceptable and everyday practice!

Anyway feel better now for a vent. Anyone else have some similar experiences out there?

[CountyRat]

Definately send a letter to the state department of health. I would also send a letter to the senior partner of the law firm who defends the hospital. Also, the Facilities and Licensing Division of the Department of Health. These are the people who license hospitals. Make alot of noise. A call to the local paper and news agency would also get some attention. This would be a great story that they would jump on.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Linda, I agree with you enthusiastically, but differ on one point. I do not think it is a good idea for any of the victims to contact the hospital's lawyer. He or she works soley for the hospital, and will not help, but rather, will try to get his client (the hospital) off the hook as quietly and cheaply as possible. The victims should get their own lawyers, and those lawyers should decide who to contact and how. I also agree with Vito about not going to the press. Publicity at this stage could make legal action more complicated, and less satisfactory.

We all care about Scrubby and the other two women who were in danger. However, we are not lawyers. Our colleagues need the counsel of a legal expert. Then, armed with accurate information, they can make decissions about how they want to proceed.

[CountyRat]

UK Cats Rule wrote, "When are the higher-ups at these facilities going to realize that just because someone has "MD" behind their name does NOT give them the right to belittle, demean, verbally, or, in this case, physically abuse anyone, nurse, CNA, phlebotomist, or whoever?"

I will answer your question, UK: they will stop after a doctor or two does some jail time, or has his license restricted, or is ordered to pay monetary damages, and not one minute sooner. Further, hospitals will continue to cover this violence up until victims take them to court. All that is necessary to guarantee that this violent behavior continues, is for victims to be "good little girls," and not make waves. I wrote it before, and I'll write it again. GET MAD, DAMN IT! Stop being good little girls, get legal assistance, and make this thug pay for his crimes, and the hospital administrator who refused to do her job answer for her negligence.

[ShayRN]

GET MAD, DAMN IT! Stop being good little girls, get legal assistance, and make this thug pay for his crimes, and the hospital administrator who refused to do her job answer for her negligence.

:yeahthat:

[CountyRat]

.....

[CountyRat]

I spoke with the union today about this sorry mess.

I have written a formal letter of complaint. I will hand this in to my nurse manager tomorrow."

"I am also considering sending a letter to the state department of health and the CEO of the hospital."

Good for you, Scrubby. You took action. I'm proud of you! Don't back down. This is a big deal. It is important that you continue. Please talk to a lawyer, but whatever you decide, you have a lot of support. Just look at all of the people who have backed you up in this discussion thread. If you take this to the next level, even more people will get on your side.

[JaneyW]

The commision now has new standards regarding this kind of behavior. If the facility is in danger of losing its accreditation, hopefully they will start to listen.

[icunurse42066]

UK Cats Rule wrote, "When are the higher-ups at these facilities going to realize that just because someone has "MD" behind their name does NOT give them the right to belittle, demean, verbally, or, in this case, physically abuse anyone, nurse, CNA, phlebotomist, or whoever?"

I will answer your question, UK: they will stop after a doctor or two does some jail time, or has his license restricted, or is ordered to pay monetary damages, and not one minute sooner. Further, hospitals will continue to cover this violence up until victims take them to court. All that is necessary to guarantee that this violent behavior continues, is for victims to be "good little girls," and not make waves. I wrote it before, and I'll write it again. GET MAD, DAMN IT! Stop being good little girls, get legal assistance, and make this thug pay for his crimes, and the hospital administrator who refused to do her job answer for her negligence.

I totally agree!!! What if it were one of the "higher ups'" daughters, wives, mothers or some other female relative, would they be as quick to sweep it under the rug? I say NO!!!!!!!!! They would have that physician's head spinning so fast that he couldn't get his checkbook out fast enough!! That's sad, but true. Until it happens to a CEO or similar position, management won't say nothing!!

[Scrubby]

UPDATE:

Well this morning the first thing I did was hand my NM the letter I wrote. Within half an hour the NM had passed it on to his superior.

The nurse who was manhandled then went in and spoke with them first . I had very little chance to speak with her when she came back about what was said.

Then it was my turn.

First up they tried to say that I just left my area without telling anyone. That's not how it happened. The team leader who was on that afternoon is fairly disorganised anyway and I'm not surprised he forgot. He did say I could go and even named the nurse who was to come relieve me. When she arrived in my area I asked her 'are you here to relieve me?' She said yes. I then assumed that it was ok and left. I told the manager exactly how I just described and nothing more was said about it.

As for the incident they tried to say that the nurse attacked said she understood that it was a critical situation and that patient care came first. I recall the manager said she was 'fine with it'. I know this sort of game very well, I thought to myself 'yeah their trying to brush this one under the carpet, call it nurse hysteria or whatever'. My response to this was that what I saw was a nurse being manhandled. I saw the effect that this had on the nurse afterwards, how distraught she was and that it was clearly not 'fine with her; at the time. I also reminded them that a nursing student was also quite upset as well.

I felt that they tried to excuse his actions. They kept going on about how this sort of emergency rarely happens where I work and how some doctors cope better than others. That it was 'out of character' for this man.

My response to them was that I'm aware of this situation at the time, there is still no reason for anyone to treat anyone in that manner. I also reminded them that this could have impacted on patient care because of the intimidation in the room at the time.

I received a very blank look when I said this. Then he started going on again about how everyone reacts in different ways.

So they said that they would hand the letter to his (the doctor) department and they would ask his superiors whether this behaviour is normal for him. The manager did agree that this behaviour was not acceptable but told me that if this is a first time offence then it would be noted and if it happens again then there is a case for further action.

I had the opportunity to speak with the nurse at length today about both our meetings. She told me she said to them that she understood that it was a critical situation and that a patients life was in danger. She never told them 'it was fine'. However she also told me that she told them at the meeting that after the incident she wanted to leave the nursing profession, she was unable to work and how she was so scared to go near the man afterwards because of his unprofessional behaviour.

Funny how this wasn't brought up at the meeting I went to. They made it out to be so trivial. I'm absolutely disgusted by their blase attitude.

She is now writing a letter of complaint as well. I strongly suggested to her that she writes in this letter about how she isn't fine about what happened, that she was so terrified about what he did and that she wants this to be taken seriously.

Right now for the police.

I rang them yesterday and I was told that they can't do anything until the nurse who was the victim of this alleged assault comes forward and speaks to them about it. Although I saw the event she has to be the one to make the report.

The ball is in this nurses court now. I told her today that whatever she wants to do she has my full support.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

I'm betting the student nurse is going to think long and hard about whether she wants to finish nursing school as well.

We probably lost 2, maybe 3 nurses thanks to this villain.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I couldn't have handled it better myself, and it's amazing the way the facts get twisted- but so predictable.

Has anyone involved thought about putting in a complaint with the medical board?

[ShayRN]

Just wanted to say...Anyone who has been a nurse for any length of time knows how much courage it took to stand up the way you did for your co-worker. You have my admiration and respect. Please keep us updated.

[Vito Andolini]

UPDATE:

Well this morning the first thing I did was hand my NM the letter I wrote. Within half an hour the NM had passed it on to his superior.

The nurse who was manhandled then went in and spoke with them first . I had very little chance to speak with her when she came back about what was said.

Then it was my turn.

First up they tried to say that I just left my area without telling anyone. That's not how it happened. The team leader who was on that afternoon is fairly disorganised anyway and I'm not surprised he forgot. He did say I could go and even named the nurse who was to come relieve me. When she arrived in my area I asked her 'are you here to relieve me?' She said yes. I then assumed that it was ok and left. I told the manager exactly how I just described and nothing more was said about it.

As for the incident they tried to say that the nurse attacked said she understood that it was a critical situation and that patient care came first. I recall the manager said she was 'fine with it'. I know this sort of game very well, I thought to myself 'yeah their trying to brush this one under the carpet, call it nurse hysteria or whatever'. My response to this was that what I saw was a nurse being manhandled. I saw the effect that this had on the nurse afterwards, how distraught she was and that it was clearly not 'fine with her; at the time. I also reminded them that a nursing student was also quite upset as well.

I felt that they tried to excuse his actions. They kept going on about how this sort of emergency rarely happens where I work and how some doctors cope better than others. That it was 'out of character' for this man.

My response to them was that I'm aware of this situation at the time, there is still no reason for anyone to treat anyone in that manner. I also reminded them that this could have impacted on patient care because of the intimidation in the room at the time.

I received a very blank look when I said this. Then he started going on again about how everyone reacts in different ways.

So they said that they would hand the letter to his (the doctor) department and they would ask his superiors whether this behaviour is normal for him. The manager did agree that this behaviour was not acceptable but told me that if this is a first time offence then it would be noted and if it happens again then there is a case for further action.

I had the opportunity to speak with the nurse at length today about both our meetings. She told me she said to them that she understood that it was a critical situation and that a patients life was in danger. She never told them 'it was fine'. However she also told me that she told them at the meeting that after the incident she wanted to leave the nursing profession, she was unable to work and how she was so scared to go near the man afterwards because of his unprofessional behaviour.

Funny how this wasn't brought up at the meeting I went to. They made it out to be so trivial. I'm absolutely disgusted by their blase attitude.

She is now writing a letter of complaint as well. I strongly suggested to her that she writes in this letter about how she isn't fine about what happened, that she was so terrified about what he did and that she wants this to be taken seriously.

Right now for the police.

I rang them yesterday and I was told that they can't do anything until the nurse who was the victim of this alleged assault comes forward and speaks to them about it. Although I saw the event she has to be the one to make the report.

The ball is in this nurses court now. I told her today that whatever she wants to do she has my full support.

In case you don't see it, you were also a victim, as was the SN. You truly need some legal advice. You see what you're up against now, don't you, how they tried to say you abandoned your workpost to come to the meeting with them? They are going to get even uglier.