Published
well... if my patient was restrained and I was in there trying to do care or especially wound care when I worked in the trauma ICU I put a surgical mask on their face until I was done.. lol.. and they just end up spitting on their face then.. Usually these patients were not in their right state of mind, going through dt's of some drug or substance, waking up from sedation meds from being on the vent.. or just simply psychotic..
If they are not in danger of hurting themselves or others I tell them this is not acceptable behavior and I leave the room. I take this as a refusal of treatment if the person is in their right mind. I also document what happened. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior out of anyone in their right mind. I am not anyone's punching bag.
We put spit bags over their head; mesh bag with a loose neck piece. Needless to say, wrist restraints, and possibly legs as well. We don't put up with that in the ER. Alternatively, until the bag arrives, pull their Tshirt up over their face.
As for the non-drunk/high/psychotic/manic/idiot-under-arrest; they aren't the ones spitting at me! But a PD report and charges for battery on a "health care worker performing their duties" would happen, we have a nice bit of legislation in NM for that very reason.
acubed
76 Posts
Just wondering, I've seen soooo many posts about nurses being spit on, cursed, bitten....what is the recourse for nurses, if any? Do you have to continue to care for the patient, how do you handle it? Thanks