Arrested for hitting a nurse

[Julius Seizure]

Texas woman jailed for hitting ER nurse

This woman hit the ER nurse in the face with a clipboard for not giving her pain meds. Glad to see that police were called to arrest the woman.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

I'm glad the woman was arrested but how about that PHI in the article? How does that work, I wonder? Sounds like the nurse told the police about pt's + drug screen and prior prescription and the reporter got the info out of the police report? Hope she doesn't get in trouble. :-/

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

I'm glad the woman was arrested but how about that PHI in the article? How does that work, I wonder? Sounds like the nurse told the police about pt's + drug screen and prior prescription and the reporter got the info out of the police report? Hope she doesn't get in trouble. :-/

Doesn't that become public record once it's in a police report? I always wondered about these type of situations as well.

[asweet25]

I'm glad that person was arrested, too many times nurses are assaulted by patients with no consequences for the patients.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Too bad Psych nurses aren't protected by law from being assaulted and battered.

[Emergent, RN]

Uh oh, Ms Ziegler might give negative feedback on her patient satisfaction survey!

[sammiesmom]

Docs check on patient narcotic prescription record before writing more drugs. I doubt the nurse has access to that. The physician probably told her and ask to tell the patient. I'm glad these crazies are being sent to jail. Nope. Nurses are not your punching bags.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

Docs check on patient narcotic prescription record before writing more drugs. I doubt the nurse has access to that. The physician probably told her and ask to tell the patient. I'm glad these crazies are being sent to jail. Nope. Nurses are not your punching bags.

OR, the nurse could have actually been an NP

[amoLucia]

Too bad Psych nurses aren't protected by law from being assaulted and battered.

Please check your state's laws. It may just be your facility's stance that they discourage nurses from pressing charges. But state law may allow it. Not just for John Q Public, average citizen.

NJ law does permit healthcare providers to press charges. NOTE: all healthcare providers - not limited to just ER docs or some of those other restrictive classes. As I remember reading up on the law, it covered any service provider in any occupation (like a Comcast repairman, a mailman, UPS driver, etc) that was assaulted in the line of their providing their services. Can't remember if it was a felony or misdemeanor charge, but the intent was clear - NOBODY should fear being a punching bag in their job. I remember it addressed physical contact; need to check out about verbal abuse. Wouldn't that be something if that were also covered!

I know many healthcare facilities frown upon nurses pressing charges, but then the admin PTB aren't on the front line. They're figuring you should accept 'that it goes with the job'. WRONG!

Check your state laws.