Owww! She bit me!

Specialties Emergency

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dm2

25 Posts

I've worked ER 22 years and was the recipient of a fist direct to the nose last week by an amphetamine user. Sure, I've had minor slaps and threats over the years, but this one was a direct connection!!!! Ouch!!! Now I understand what "having your bell rung" means. Have had a hard time dealing with it..... rehashing what did I "do wrong" ..... little, if any support or concern from the hospital management or police who we called to subdue her. I was expected to finish my shift even though I was a mass of raw nerves! Now that was a very high risk thing to do! Especially when a visitor started cursing me at triage for not taking her son's burning member ahead of the pale vomiting blood patient. I must admit, I was more aggressive than usual to her outburst in the waiting room!

Things need to change in our little community ED. We're needing the police more and more for violent pts! Then I read about that nurse getting shot in the face this week in California. For several days, I've been so very "sad" as a reaction to the assault. ? stress reaction? yeah I know that and am recovering, but the intensity of it, surprised me! just need some time.......

I always said I would press charges if assaulted at work, but what is the value in pressing charges against a cranked up speeding homeless person that we only have a name on. The officer advsed me not to press charges at that time as it would dela her real need: psych care. In this area that is very true. We have no good psych intervention available for the uninsured. I am very frustated by the whole event and am having a hard time even walking in the door of the E.D. for now! Which is frustrating cuz I love my job!

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN

3,734 Posts

I work in a geriatric/psychiatric unit where this can be common occurances. But then again, we are where they send those patients who beat up on the staff, bite, kick, scream, etc. and we're who they go to for behavioral health problems. Granted, not all "geriatric" patients are all 70 or over, we've had several under 50 that meet the program specifications.

I'm a firm believer that ALL staff - whether on the hospital floor, in the nursing home, etc., should be trained in crisis intervention techniques: how to avoid those bites, blows and attacks, as well as knowing when to back off and work as a team. Everyone should be properly trained in how to protect themselves as well as other patients, and what signs to look for in those patients who get aggressive.

What would you do if a patient got you in a choke-hold from behind? Would you know how to get out of that position, without causing injury to the attacker? Say it's a 65 year old man with dementia who thinks you're trying to steal his lunch tray....it's happened before. Would you know what to do? Many workers don't realize that they have the RIGHT to protect themselves!

YOu made a few good points. I work in LTC. Sometimes it seems like psych/ geri. When I left nursing school I said I would never work psyche :rotfl: Little did I know....

Someone posted that dementia isn't an excuse....do you think these pts would deliberatly act this way? Do they want to loose their minds, inability to speak, eat, feed thierselves, toilet...nope. Sometimes being violent is thier only way to deal with situations that thier brain cant remember how to.

Yep I've been bitten before....not fun! Punched, spit at etc too.

webblarsk

928 Posts

Fortunatley I havent been assulted lately. Now when I worked in LTC.............:chuckle

acgemt

174 Posts

Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I was working in the ICU as a tech and I was watching a patient w/ AMS. she was restrained but she was very capable of bending down in bed so that her hand was in very good reach of her NGT. Well, it was my job to prevent this from being dislodged. Well I kept having to tell her to stop and would have to push her back (gently of course) and all of a sudden she just stared at me. Then out of no where, she spit on me (luckily it landed on my cheek and not in my eye). Ick...I was so mad.

Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

A lady bit my arm in April, and took a nice chunk of skin. Hey, at least I got a current tetorifice shot on the facility's dime! I don't get hit as often as the newer hires. But that's just because I've learned how to duck.

dm2

25 Posts

maybe I was slow once, but not again! LOL!!!!

LPNbound

4 Posts

I am doing CNA clinicals waiting to start LPN program. Me and my partner were attempting to give a patient a shower when she fisted me across the head, and not only that, but after leaving the shower area I was cleaner than she was. I had a totally wet head and my uniform was soaked. Its all part of the job I guess. Actually, we had quiet a laugh afterwards.

kae rn

50 Posts

Haven't been assaulted recently. But work in rehab, and have learned to keep myself in between the door and the (TBI)patient. Have thrived on being athletic, and it sure pays off. By the way, I am not very young--37--just experienced.

allnurses Guide

JBudd, MSN

3,836 Posts

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
Called me a number of unsavory names and beat at me with her fists. and I am terrified. Any advice or support available?"

Since you were assaulted by her, you also have a claim, if the hospital tries to fire you, offer to counter sue the hospital for not providing a safe working environment, especially since they already knew she was abusive in the past.

Did she connect with her fists? File a police report. Let the hospital know you won't take this lieing down.

"oh by the way, this patient is a known noncompliant and has frequently abused other nurses and throws temper tantrums often. However, I had not dealt with her and was unaware of this at the time. "

"My mgr said well you are the only one she has ever made a complaint against. I really wanted to tell her that maybe I was the only one who identified myself by name. But I held my tongue.

Find anyone else who has had to deal with her, and see if they will back you up. Get statements from them. If it goes that far, get a lawyer to subpeona her records ( I document on the nurse's notes when someone curses at me or is abusive) and the hospital records for incident reports concerning her. I know, I know, incident reports are supposed to be confidential between hospital and hosp. lawyer, but if someone else makes a statement that they filed a report, you may be able to get to it. Need a lawyer though, or you can get stonewalled forever.

jaimealmostRN

491 Posts

I was assaulted as a tech...but by another tech. I wasn't injured, but this person did not lose their job. I am usually very assertive, but since the only witness lied it was just his word against mine. I realized that this facility treated their staff horribly, although it was union, and I would get nowhere. In retrospect I should have filed a police report...but I just felt so silly (as this lowly tech) going to the charge nurse and saying, "he pushed me!" Now, I know better...and no one will ever do this again. If they do, they'll be arrested.

Since you were assaulted by her, you also have a claim, if the hospital tries to fire you, offer to counter sue the hospital for not providing a safe working environment, especially since they already knew she was abusive in the past.

Did she connect with her fists? File a police report. Let the hospital know you won't take this lieing down. end quote]

They suspended me for 5 days (60 hours) and said the next complaint against me would result in termination. Well wouldn't you know, another pt complained and I was terminated. 3 complaints in 1.5 years in a busy ER and my word doesn't count. Doesn't matter that the staff I work with think I am the most patient, nicest person and they have never seen anything out of the way. Doesn't matter how many good things have been written about me. All that counts and I quote " is the patient's perception". I am devastated.

TinyNurse, RN

692 Posts

Specializes in Emergency.

not recently,4 months ago, but yeah the only ER assault I've had was to be bitten by a "post ictal" patient. broke the skin, all was fine after all blood work was back. I was trying to hold her down during a blood draw, my own fault i guess. ugggg. I learned from that one. xo Jen

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