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.
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.
-Dan
I am an RN in a LTC facility in Canada and we were required to take a course called PART, which stands for Personal Assault Response Training. It teaches self defense moves that are least harmful to your resident. I do believe it is now a part of the BSN, LPN and SCA[special Care Aide] courses in our province. It does work.
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.
I am an RN in KY, USA and work at a State Behavioral Health Facility. All Direct Care Staff members are Required to take an 8 hour Psychiatric Crisis Intervention Class. We are required to Recertify in CPI every 3 years. If staff members are involved in altercations that could be questionable, re-education/training is done. These are developed by the National Crisis Prevention Institute. Instructors must attend the training institute to teach the classes. It covers many of the areas you were asking about. With the push to reduce Seclusion and Restraint by JCAHO and regulatory agencies, it is a big issue in our facility. This class teaches teamwork, de-escalation, and holds to prevent injury to both staff and patient. With the State laws and Federal laws regarding abuse and reporting, it is very important to have documentation of training and follow through. I expect that Medical Facilities staff will be at even greater risk with the increased availability of Street drugs as Methamphetamine and others. Be careful with using any force that is not documented as approved by your facility policy, or you may be left to answer for your actions. Good luck!! :)
This is a really interesting thread. I work nights in a small hospital where at times you can be alone on the smallest patient care area. Many times ppl out of the ER come wondering through for this or that. The nurses station has only one way in and out-bad place to be trapped. Administration is "aware." I have been taking Krav Maga for over a year.It's a very straight forward system based on natural instinct/responses and defenses are very similar. It does not take years to be effective. We work defenses aginst knife and gun as well as chokes, headlocks, etc. However, I wouldn't call it "gentle." Some of my fellow students are in LE and I have learned a lot about the continuum of force but haven't yet figured how it applies to nursing, at least not specifically. Some of our patients have psych or drug issues as secondary dx (or undiagnosed) and we have no set protocol for any types of physical threats. You are right, it is a largely ignored problem. No we don't want to harm our patients but if it comes down to us or them.........better to be judged by 12 then carried by 6!
The one problem I see with Krav Maga is that it is what I call "bang them, whack them" kind of self defense. That may be applicable in certain situation like a hostage situation, terrorist attack, or out in the parking lot in the middle of the night. But wil patients, it needs to be greatly modified.
For example, if you are being choked, Karv Maga would probably land the person who is choking you in the ER (if my understanding of Karv Maga is correct) if the person is not already in the ER already. Something like a choke or head lock or whatever holds, we need techniques that won't land the patient in the ER.
The CDT stuff I mentioned earlier does fullfill that criteria. However I don't know how effective it is if the person is in full blown psychosis since it is base on pressure points and other temporary nondamaging stunning techniques.
What is needed is probably something what police have - they have many levels of force esculation and they have strict rules in terms of when it is allow to esculate to the next level. The police basically have many tools available to them. Nurses in many cases do not have the luxuary of these many options.
Like some of the previous post mentioned, make sure you know your institution force policy if they have one. One hospital I am familiar with have a policy of not using any techniques that involve pain (there goes all the pressure point techniques in CDT).
I did take a class similiar to what you are saying. Bascically we leanred a little self defense like how to break loose when someone holding you risks or attempting to grab your neck. And we learn how to "take down a violent person (pysch patient) without hurting them. But this was a 3 person take down called the T-shirt method.
I did take a class similiar to what you are saying. Bascically we leanred a little self defense like how to break loose when someone holding you risks or attempting to grab your neck. And we learn how to "take down a violent person (pysch patient) without hurting them. But this was a 3 person take down called the T-shirt method.
I did take a class similiar to what you are saying. Bascically we leanred a little self defense like how to break loose when someone holding you risks or attempting to grab your neck. And we learn how to "take down a violent person (pysch patient) without hurting them. But this was a 3 person take down called the T-shirt method.
I did take a class similiar to what you are saying. Bascically we leanred a little self defense like how to break loose when someone holding you risks or attempting to grab your neck. And we learn how to "take down a violent person (pysch patient) without hurting them. But this was a 3 person take down called the T-shirt method.
That's interesting, the one I learn in the take down (for psych patient) part require 5 persons instead of 3. One person for each arm and legs (4 people right there), and one person to protect the patient like making sure the patient's head don't snap back or hit something. Wonder what different hospital uses in terms of techniques...
That's interesting, the one I learn in the take down (for psych patient) part require 5 persons instead of 3. One person for each arm and legs (4 people right there), and one person to protect the patient like making sure the patient's head don't snap back or hit something. Wonder what different hospital uses in terms of techniques...
Under stress, you might not be as accurate in finding those pressure points especially if the patient you're trying to control is moving around a lot and maybe trying his best to evade you.
I don't advocate Krav Maga as the system to use in a patient care setting but in our "lone nurse at night" with potential exposure to outside threats, I'm glad I know it :)
Under stress, you might not be as accurate in finding those pressure points especially if the patient you're trying to control is moving around a lot and maybe trying his best to evade you.
I don't advocate Krav Maga as the system to use in a patient care setting but in our "lone nurse at night" with potential exposure to outside threats, I'm glad I know it :)
klosses
4 Posts
I am an RN in a LTC facility in Canada and we were required to take a course called PART, which stands for Personal Assault Response Training. It teaches self defense moves that are least harmful to your resident. I do believe it is now a part of the BSN, LPN and SCA[special Care Aide] courses in our province. It does work.