I was outraged hearing this. We have satellite clinic affiliated with our hospital, that is sort of far and segregated in a neighborhood that has become more unsafe thoughout the years. Anyway, a patient came to the clinic insisting on birth control pills. The staff basically told her that birth control pills are not distributed the same way condoms are, and she would need to be evaluated by a physician. They say that this patient showed her natural behind, and one of the doctors tried to take her to the side to explain what needed to be done and why.
Then, a Patient Care Associate got involved to explain the same thing, and the patient hauls off and starts beating her up for dear life. None of the staff helped her, from nurses, other aides, or physicians. By the time the police arrived, the patient ran off.
I am thoroughly disgusted that these staff members did not assist this woman as she was being attacked. It could have been any one of them, from receptionist to physicians. And there were at least 8-10 people on duty. What has dealing with people come to???
Specializes in Mostly LTC, some acute and some ER,.
I have a friend who recently followed a confused patient outside through a door that was locked from the outside and she couldn't get back in. She had called for help as she followed him out (around 3am), but no one came. He proceeded to beat her in the head with his foley bag (the one with the hard plastic urometer). She finally scaled a 4ft wall and made her way to the front entrance of the hospital (through the bushes no less) with this confused patient chasing her. Once she was at the front door (that is also locked from the outside after 9pm) she began banging on the glass. She saw a housekeeper who looked at her with this patient attacking her and left her there. Now the housekeeper did go for help, but still..why not open the d@^& door and help her fend off this patient??? (the housekeeper later said that she had not wanted to open the door because she was afraid of the patient getting back in!!!) now to add insult to injury, once my friend had gotten back inside (with a huge red mark on her face, sticks and twigs in her obviously mussed hair and on her clothes, tears and mascara streaming down her face) a patient's family member approached her and said "I would like some coffee. I take it with cream no sugar." !!! I told her at that point I would have said "There's a man with your coffee right out there" and pointed her toward the door outside. The nerve of some people!!!
I would have been SO angry, especially after being asked for coffee in a demeaning manner after all that.
I'm sorry but that would not have happened in my ER, that person would have been delt with swiftly by all coworkers present. I sincerlly hope that the person gets herself caught and doesn't come back to that place to do that again.
I was outraged hearing this. We have satellite clinic affiliated with our hospital, that is sort of far and segregated in a neighborhood that has become more unsafe thoughout the years. Anyway, a patient came to the clinic insisting on birth control pills. The staff basically told her that birth control pills are not distributed the same way condoms are, and she would need to be evaluated by a physician. They say that this patient showed her natural behind, and one of the doctors tried to take her to the side to explain what needed to be done and why.
Then, a Patient Care Associate got involved to explain the same thing, and the patient hauls off and starts beating her up for dear life. None of the staff helped her, from nurses, other aides, or physicians. By the time the police arrived, the patient ran off.
I am thoroughly disgusted that these staff members did not assist this woman as she was being attacked. It could have been any one of them, from receptionist to physicians. And there were at least 8-10 people on duty. What has dealing with people come to???
That is just scary. It actually sounds like a nightmare I recently had of being beaten at work, and no one came to help.
:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire
Please, tell me you have a job somewhere else now. It's enough to work with the patients who can be nuts, but to have the co-workers doing a long mental dialogue before they help!!!!! :trout:
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Update on the story: What actually happened is that the 20 year old patient came in with her mother, and it was the mother that insisted that this kid be given birth control pills. The daughter was not arguing, the mother was. The mom argued with the doctor, the nurses as well the PCA that was attacked, but (maybe), there was something about the PCA's demeanor that really pissed this woman off, because they waited for her to walk out of the clinic. Right outside the clinic door, the mother confronted the PCA, hit her, and then, they both (mother and daughter) started beating her up. The employees saw what happened out of the door and called the police, but none of them went out to help her.
They say that the mother is a regular troublemaker; coming to our hospital for years, they say. My husband, who is a hospital police lieutenant had to visit there today and get their statements. He did obtain the address that was in our computerized system, and they are trying to get pictures posted in all of the clinics because now, the hospital says they are banning her from coming back, and if she shows up, she is to be arrested immediately. This woman has been known to have many fake addresses, so, I only hope that they have the real one.
Just knowing that there was not one, but two people beating up on this person made me even madder.
I would try to judge the severity of the attack. If its just a girly catfight with some hairpulling and slapping, I would step in and try to pull them apart without being overly aggressive. Its rare for a fight between women to result in serious life threatening injuries or death.
However, if the attacker is a large man its a totally different story. If he's pummeling on somebody as far as I'm concerned thats a life and death matter and I'm doing anything I can to stop him, even if it means I have to kill the attacker. In that scenario, I've got no qualms about reaching for a heavy metal object and I'm looking to crack his skull open. Jumping on his back or trying to push him off wont stop that kind of attack.
Here's a video of the kind of attack that deserves deadly force to stop it:
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
i would try to judge the severity of the attack. if its just a girly catfight with some hairpulling and slapping, i would step in and try to pull them apart without being overly aggressive. its rare for a fight between women to result in serious life threatening injuries or death.
whoa!!!!! dude, you have obviously never worked psych???
Specializes in Acute care, Community Med, SANE, ASC.
Every nurse should have their situational awareness switched on at all times. Highly recommend "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker about paying attention to and acting on your innate warning faculties in order to keep you out of danger.
Agree--this book is outstanding--as are all his books. He's a genius.
I would try to judge the severity of the attack. /quote]
WTH? ummm.... I was "attacked", it was swift and accurate and it BROKE MY NOSE.....is that severe enough for someone to step in? Are you kidding me? Let me tell you about lady on lady fights. I saw a lady, let's imagine she wasn't 80 lbs soaking wet, her nurse was about 180. This little lady, who was also strung out on god knows what, swiftly and without discretion TOOK the nurse off her feet in about half a second. Of course the trauma team jumped to stop it, in a real ER. Now, because they are girls this is somehow, to you, ok? Phooey. You wait til you get your chance in the ER with some drug sucking idiots and see how you handle your "severity of the attack." You'll be screaming for some help one day when a girl strung out clobbers you.
I don't want you working anywhere NEAR me if I ever need assistance, you will be judging the situation while all hell breaks loose. NO THANKS.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I have seen patients as small as 100 lbs pull down metal fixtures and bend them like rubberbands in psych. Not sure if I agree with that one. Also, the neighborhood that this is located in and the clientle that is being served are totally street people who have no issue with going to jail.
These women are like the 'ride and die' gals that their drug dealer boyfriends have that are just as, if not more ruthless than their significant others.
Got kneed in the chest the other day in mental health when i was assisting security restrain a pt. Really rode us hard, but we got through it. We have an excellent security staff at our facility, and I couldn't be grateful enough to have them around.
When you get the chance, thank you security department for doing what they do best (cover your butt), and thank the lucky stars that you don't have to do their job daily. (Even though some of them may just sit around and eat, or are old).
tattooednursie, LVN
660 Posts
I would have been SO angry, especially after being asked for coffee in a demeaning manner after all that.