Nurses, have you been been spit on, pushed, scratched and verbally or assaulted?

[Brian]

Unfortunately, it is quite common in the nursing profession to have had been assaulted one way or another by a patient at some point in your career.

For some reason, it is tolerated in the nursing profession and is just accepted as "part of the job"? Police do not tolerate this type of abuse, nor do most professions, why is it tolerated in the nursing profession?

Do to recent stories of fatal violence in hospitals, I wanted to poll all of you AN'ers and see what kind of percentage of nurses from all specialties have had to deal with violence in some fashion.

I think we all would like to see policies change to have a safer work environments, please share this poll with your nursing friends, Facebook etc.... Thanks

Related News:

• Violence in hospitals common for staff-CNN - Nursing for Nurses
  
• Visitor Shoots Doctor at Johns Hopkins
  
• Attacking a Doctor Makes News; Attacking a Nurse is Business As Usual - Nursing for Nurses
  

Please take a second and answer our poll, then if you wish, please share your stories of your experiences.

[SlightlyMental_RN]

Working with chemical dependency detox/psych patients, I (surprisingly) have not had too many problems. Mostly, it's been the odd butt-rub/grab by older males that are completely smashed and think I'm their girlfriend when I come to assess them in their beds. Lots of swearing, calling of names, but that doesn't bother me too much. I think that working with the population, you have to be able to read people pretty well, kinda like how you would eye up an unknown animal by using that gut-instinct of are they friend or foe. I come off as a b*tchy-no-nonsense-Mom-type, so that works to my benefit, too.

[RNAaron]

I am glad you pressed charges and followed through in court. I would have done the same. Unless the patient was really confused.

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

Hey there Brian -

IF we have been "everything" including and add orbit broken via fist :sstrs: , not even considering the PTSD that I am certain exists - - can you vote more than once??

Good question.

Practice SAFE!

:angel:

[kickmeiamanurse]

Kicked. Punched. Spit at. Swore at. Scratched. Bit. Licked. Grabbed. Tripped.

I had a woman on her death bed (palliative care). Her granddaughter came in drunk and on drugs and told me if her grandma died, she was going to kill me.

Also: Kissed, hugged, thanked, adored, appreciated... God Bless the wonderful people, that make it possible to continue doing this work.

[nursing'sfornobody]

O-M-G.

So what can nurses do in this situation? Are you allowed to defend yourself? I would really hate someone spitting on me.

If you plan to be a nurse, better learn to take it and like it.

Defend yourself? Hahahahaha.

[nursing'sfornobody]

In almost 35 years of nursing, I can say "all of the above" and more, many times. Most dangerous departments are ER and (surprisingly) geriatric and LTC.

Best story on this was when we had a patient in LTC who obviously belonged in a psych hospital, not geriatric LTC. He was fit, strong and dangerous. He was also determined to escape. Every staff nurse and nursing assistant on the unit had been hurt by this resident, but whenever we reported this to our supervisor, she blamed us and said we "just weren't approaching him right". She was proud to point out that he'd never been aggressive with her. One day, she walked into that residents room to give him his mail (after knocking, of course) He decked her so hard she flew out the door backwards and hit the wall on the opposite side of the wall. Guess when she "didn't approach him right" it was different, because he was transferred out to another facility next morning! Yeah, that's nursing!

With experience, you learn passive methods to protect yourself:

You never wear anything around your neck--it could be used to choke you.

You always secure your hair in a tight ponytail holder so it can't be yanked.

You try whenever possible to stay a few inches beyond a patient's reach.(and it's a good idea to lay a hand on their opposite arm when doing something that involves close proximity)

When administering crushed meds in pudding/applesauce to patients, always keep your face out of spitting distance.

Always wear a long-sleeved scrub jacket because when you get scratched--that brown stuff under their fingernails usually isn't dirt.

Never expect management to be on your side when attacked.

Nursing is traumatic and dangerous, unbelievably stressful and thankless.It takes away your soul and gives you high blood pressure, ulcers and varicose veins in return. I'm thankful every day that I finally made it to retirement!

[stressednurse70]

"Nursing is traumatic and dangerous, unbelievably stressful and thankless.It takes away your soul and gives you high blood pressure, ulcers and varicose veins in return."

Nursing'sfornobody - you make some very good points. I love this quote from you. It is amazing that we keeping going back day after day, year after year. Hope you are enjoying retirement :)

[cherryames1949]

Our job is definitely a love hate relationship. It wears you out physically, mentally and emotionally. I always say that I am crawling to the finish line. I will be 61 in 9 days. Only four more years to go! Wish me luck nursing'sfornobody! I can't wait to join you.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

If you plan to be a nurse, better learn to take it and like it.

Defend yourself? Hahahahaha.

This is not a helpful comment. There have been those of us who have complained to management or pressed charges and were successful. Lying down and taking it does no one any good.

[zacsmimi]

I hope to God I never feel that way. I love nursing as much as I did while I was wide eyed in school. Cherry Ames was my hero from about age 12 on. But yeah, Ive been attacked... by hysterical patients, drug abusers, prisoners, psych patients, and patients with dementia. I didnt read all seven pages of this string but I cant help but wonder how many of these violent episodes reported by nurses could have been prevented if the staff was more aware? (I dont mean those of you who had the horrible attacks meant to destroy you...) The majority of this kind of violence I really think can be prevented. For one thing - physically forcing another person to do ANYTHING they dont want to do is against the law; violating patient rights. We need to teach our nurses how to de-escalate situations, not add to them. That said - of course, defend yourself. If you find yourself in a situation thats dangerous, get out of it - call for help, STOP what you are doing and step back. Being justified in your actions isnt going to heal fractures. Stay aware, alert and remember YOUR attitude says a lot about how people are going to respond to you.

[Fiona59]

One thing we are noticing in my hospital is a rise in verbal and physical abuse by women of some ethnic backgrounds. We don't know if it is because they are refugees from war torn East Africa, or with another group because nurses in their culture are regarded as servants. Slapping, screaming, spitting, and expecting to be waited on hand and foot go hand in hand.

Two nurses were recently injured by one little old lady who is used to ordering her daughters and dils around and treating them like servants. One of her more western dils told us it's ingrained in their culture. Daughter in laws are treated like servants and her mother in law has finally reached the top of the totem pole and is treating this generation how the previous generation treated her.

Was it assault? We're tired of getting cultural sensitivity lessons.

[nvsmom]

One thing we are noticing in my hospital is a rise in verbal and physical abuse by women of some ethnic backgrounds. We don't know if it is because they are refugees from war torn East Africa, or with another group because nurses in their culture are regarded as servants. Slapping, screaming, spitting, and expecting to be waited on hand and foot go hand in hand.

Two nurses were recently injured by one little old lady who is used to ordering her daughters and dils around and treating them like servants. One of her more western dils told us it's ingrained in their culture. Daughter in laws are treated like servants and her mother in law has finally reached the top of the totem pole and is treating this generation how the previous generation treated her.

Was it assault? We're tired of getting cultural sensitivity lessons.

Now I believe we've gotta be culturally sensitive, but that doesn't mean nurses have to be treated that way. I am so shocked to learn management will most likely do nothing if a patient hits, spits, or assaults you in some way. I don't think that's right.