If there were such a class as a "Nurse Self-Defense" class, would you take it?
A "Nurse Self-Defense" class teaches a nurse how to deal with physically violent patients basically. But it does have other characteristics like it will teach how to do minimum damage (preferably no damage) to the patient in the process of defending one self. The techniqes being taught are independent of the size of the person, so basically a 4 foot 10 nurse can bring down a 6 ft 10 person with minimum damage to both the patient and the nurse.
Probably it will involve lots of holds, locks, and maybe some thorwing techniques from different martial arts. Oh yes, lots of training on how to get out of the way when you see a punch or whatever comming. Maybe even learn how to use some unobstrusive weapon like kubotan (a little 6 inch or so stick you can carry on your keychain).
Basically it has to be something very practical that one can learn to use in a hurry. The class has to be design with the nurses in mind just like classes design specifically design for police officers in term of use of force.
Do a "find" (ctrl-F) for "defence" on this page. They have some kind of self-defence class. Might be interesting to talk to them for those who wants to start something in their unit. People take it every 2 years.
Go down toward the bottom of the page, it mentioned OSHA recommend self defense type training. This can be use as a justification for a "security" program.
I was talking to a co-worker who is in the BSN program, here. She said they do have a week or two of self-defense before they do their psych rotation. I believe that's a fairly recent development, but a step in the right direction.
I was talking to a co-worker who is in the BSN program, here. She said they do have a week or two of self-defense before they do their psych rotation. I believe that's a fairly recent development, but a step in the right direction.
You happened to know the kind of self-defense they have to go through? Especially design for nursing, or maybe psych nursing? Or something generic?
I went to a local martial art school and talked to them. They say there is something call CDT which might meet our criteria since it is non-leathal. It is also taught to law-enforcement officers and they talk about the legal aspect also.
This martial art school are certified to teach CDT. I got their contact number if you want (PM me). I think they will give you the right contact (probably similar to the web site above) unless they are in your area.
It is expensive however. Cost $300 for two day seminar (8 hours total over the weekend). Some places can charge a lot more unless you get a group discount or something.
i went to a local martial art school and talked to them. they say there is something call cdt which might meet our criteria since it is non-leathal. it is also taught to law-enforcement officers and they talk about the legal aspect also.
you are on the right track. i found that not all martial arts schools have a high spitial value on the protection techniques they teach until the higher ranks.
i train in wing chun kung fu, which has values to aikido in that you dont have to do you anything (attack) if your opponent isn't doing anything. i found that having the awareness that somebody may do something unexpected is a value and has allowed me to remove myself and others out of a potientially dangerous situation whilst at work!
legally, your never allowed to 'return fire' when a member of the public attacks but, if your trained enough to see it coming then you can avoid some things anyway :)
Well, today I went to this self-defense class that is two days long (4 hours each day). It is aimed at law enforcement mostly but it is open to the public. About 1/3 of the class are people from law enforcement. I am taking it because I am checking it out to see if some of the techniques can be apply to nursing . So far, I think most of the techniques can be apply in a nursing enviornment.
As mentioned before on this thread, most martial arts are not appropriate in a nursing envirnoment because the techniques are just too deadly or too damaging (taking out someone knees or going for someone's groin is just too damaging and you can potentially get into huge legal problems also). Also in a real situation, lots of people will not be able to execute these damaging techniques just because we don't have the heart for it. Plus lots of martial arts just take too long to learn to get to a proficient level for many people.
The course is call CDT and all the techniques are non-deadly and also does not do any damage to the other person. But boy are these techniques painful!!!!! Oooooooouch! And most of us in the class only apply maybe 5% to 10% of the force, just can't imagine what it is like if it is applied full force. We also learn "stunning techniques" which disrupts a person's nervous system for a second or so which gives us the time to apply a take down technique or just run.
Guess I should not complain, the instructors who went through the insturctor training course have to go through 6 full days of these pain. They say this is one of the most painful classes they ever went through.
I can see why they teach this to law enforement people, it is very easy to learn because it is base on your natural reactions. It is non-damaging and surprising some of the techniques even work on people who are in full blown psychosis (due to PCP or due to some form of serious mental illness). For the law-enforcement people, they are taught extra stuff in the class like in terms how to bring a person to a position where they can hand-cuff the subject. For the rest of us, we are taught what is call "stun-and-run" where we use a combination of stunning techniques and take down techniques, and then run.
Tomorrow, well, 4 more hours of pain.
-Dan
ps. I've seen some these techniques in other martial arts like Hapkido and Eskrima, ... etc . It is the way these techniques are put together and the training they put you through that is unique.
Just finished the CDT class. I am so glad it is only two 1/2 days. Our training T-shirt is blue... it really should be black and blue instead... more appropriate.
Toward the end, we were in two groups in a few cases as some techniuqes are only taught to law-enforcement (like extracting a person out of a car with no damage to the subject) and us non-law-enforcement group did something else.
Actually get certified. The certifaction is part of the liability thing that goes along with the program. If one is sued, the program will send expert witness for you. But you have to get recertified every year.
It turns out this is the "highest" level of certification (that is why it is offer to law enforcement) except for the instructor level which is six 1/'2 days (not full days as I though originally). We are all now qualify for training at the instructor certification level if we wish (no thank you, this is painful enough for two days, don't need 6 days of pain).
We also will have practice session every month or so to keep our techniques sharp (how about every 2 or 3 months instead... still fresh from all the pain).
Check to be sure that you are not going to be liable if using any hand on control with a pt. Even defending yourself in some situations. If your hospitals have Psych wards they have to have protocols for the psych workers to follow. Ask for the same program that psych uses. Medicaly ill pts can be psychotic.
In our hospital they can call a Psych code and security and psych workers respond. In psych you cannot use holds that are painfull . I would be careful using the CDT untill you check on your liability if a pt. complains.
Check to be sure that you are not going to be liable if using any hand on control with a pt. Even defending yourself in some situations. If your hospitals have Psych wards they have to have protocols for the psych workers to follow. Ask for the same program that psych uses. Medicaly ill pts can be psychotic.
In our hospital they can call a Psych code and security and psych workers respond. In psych you cannot use holds that are painfull . I would be careful using the CDT untill you check on your liability if a pt. complains.
Very good advice. With CDT, I can see it being use to get one out of trouble when help have not arrive yet or can't get help (basically one is trapped for whatever reason and can't get help). Just their phrase "stun and run" will give you an idea what it is. The stun part does no damage to the subject (some of the stun does not even hurt; the hold yes, it can hurt depending on the technique) and the purpose is to confuse the subject momentary so you can get out of there (run) and get whatever help you need (call a code or whatever the protocal is).
Take a simple example, let's say one of the pt is choking a fellow nurse. Well, you can call for help but that might be too late. With appropriate technique, you can free the choke hold without damage to the pt and both you and the other nurse can run after that to get help.
Still very good advice. Make sure to check with your hospital policy.
danu3
621 Posts
http://www.nyp.org/nursing/nur_edu_wes_edu.html
Do a "find" (ctrl-F) for "defence" on this page. They have some kind of self-defence class. Might be interesting to talk to them for those who wants to start something in their unit. People take it every 2 years.
-Dan