Physical Abuse against Staff

KittyLovinRN · Jul 9, 2011

Funny you should mention this

I was just assaulted tonight by an etoh withdrawal...

Seems like (at least here) if they're disoriented (not so much d/t dementia, I dont get upset about a dementia patient hitting me) due to etoh withdrawal it's completely ignored after the situation is de-escalated.

But let me tell you, feeling that kind of terror when a patient physicially threatens you is awful.

ooper3076 · Jul 9, 2011

I was pinched and 'strangled' by a patient suffering from dementia. He didn't squeeze my throat hard, just 'holding' my throat while he sang church songs at 3 am. I got him to stop pinching me but waited for security to come up for the whole throat grabbing thing. The bad thing is that later that night he punched a pregnant nurse in the side and I had to bear hug him. I think that is the worse when patients with dementia get physical because you cannot reason with them and they do not understand what they do or have done. He was great during the day but at night...shew. Thankful for haldol and seroquel :)

Now, being assaulted with withdrawals or other issues that doesn't involve dementia or any other neuro issues? um, no. I think the hospitals should do something about the assaults on nurses while in the hospital setting. I don't think one nurse would ever let that happen to them at the grocery store. But I guess thats a risk we take, huh

EmergencyNrse · Jul 9, 2011

I take great pleasure in sending patients that cross the line to the grey-room Hilton (Jail).

If it's more than just not being able to play well with others then it's Haldol 5mg Q 5 min until

all they can do is sit in the corner and drool on themselves...

Usually though you can see it coming and take appropriate action to prevent getting assaulted.

Deescalate the anxiety or the tension. Gotta protect yourself before bad things happen.

This is the current take on abuse and aggression:

https://www.riskinstitute.org/peri/images/file/Chapter2aggression.pdf

ckh23, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2011

It's not an acceptable place anywhere. I call the cops and press charges whether they are drunk or sober.

BA_anthropology · Jul 9, 2011

I was JUST thinking about this sort of stuff last night!

I agree with you all-- it sucks and there is a line where something needs to be done, but certainly not whilst in the midst of etoh withdrawal or to a dementia patient. And the "something" that needs to be done is usually outlined pretty clearly in hospital policy. Erm, I'm a student so I think that by the book, it's: talk down, remove from the environment, show of force, then restrain chemically or mechanically. On the units, it usually happens so fast that it looks more like: restrain with haldol and isolate.

The reason I was thinking about this was because of the way sexual harassment is tolerated, when it comes from patients. I had a pervy patient during clinical. He was some older man, who moaned emphatically and said "oh yeah, that's good" during his bath. He was not mentally impaired in any real way, just old and stubborn. It was well acknowledged on the floor that he did this, and I was warned about it by the aid. She told me that he WILL try to get me to wash his groin, despite being up and walking!!! And she offered to "help." THIS WAS ALSO THE NURSE MANAGER'S SUGGESTION ABOUT HOW TO DEAL. >:-[

That's what this perv needs, is TWO young women help bathe him. Barf.

So here's a hospital offering not one, but TWO people to spend their time bathing the groin of an ambulatory patient who doesn't need even one person.

Because I have a brain I told him that he could wash his whole front, despite having had a central line placed the day prior. I initially told him "you can wash your front, I'll help with your back," and he tried to tell me he couldn't because of the picc line which was causing him 0 pain! He even moaned while I QUICKLY wiped his back and nearly puked all over myself.

Now to be fair, I didn't exactly cry myself to sleep, or feel worthless or like I was being treated like a sex-worker over this, but it was DISGUSTING. I had to examine his skin to make sure it was okay, and it actually had signs of potential problems, so I'm glad I did. But seriously, I can't believe that we have to put up with this sort of nonsense!!!

I mean, in what other field in the US is this kind of thing actually tolerated????

Trauma Columnist · Jul 9, 2011

In IL it's a felony to strike or attack a healthcare worker. I was spit on, filed a police report, went to court and the guy said he was drunk and didn't remember it and the judge said so what, sentenced him to six months in jail.

nurse0520 · Jul 9, 2011

I wish this country would make it a felony to assault a healthcare worker of any kind. We are one of the most disrespected professions right now politically though. I cant see congress or the senate "wasting their time" They would think it is another thing to healthcare reform.

nurse0520 · Jul 9, 2011

I was JUST thinking about this sort of stuff last night!
I agree with you all-- it sucks and there is a line where something needs to be done, but certainly not whilst in the midst of etoh withdrawal or to a dementia patient. And the "something" that needs to be done is usually outlined pretty clearly in hospital policy. Erm, I'm a student so I think that by the book, it's: talk down, remove from the environment, show of force, then restrain chemically or mechanically. On the units, it usually happens so fast that it looks more like: restrain with haldol and isolate.
The reason I was thinking about this was because of the way sexual harassment is tolerated, when it comes from patients. I had a pervy patient during clinical. He was some older man, who moaned emphatically and said "oh yeah, that's good" during his bath. He was not mentally impaired in any real way, just old and stubborn. It was well acknowledged on the floor that he did this, and I was warned about it by the aid. She told me that he WILL try to get me to wash his groin, despite being up and walking!!! And she offered to "help." THIS WAS ALSO THE NURSE MANAGER'S SUGGESTION ABOUT HOW TO DEAL. >:-[
That's what this perv needs, is TWO young women help bathe him. Barf.
So here's a hospital offering not one, but TWO people to spend their time bathing the groin of an ambulatory patient who doesn't need even one person.
Because I have a brain I told him that he could wash his whole front, despite having had a central line placed the day prior. I initially told him "you can wash your front, I'll help with your back," and he tried to tell me he couldn't because of the picc line which was causing him 0 pain! He even moaned while I QUICKLY wiped his back and nearly puked all over myself.
Now to be fair, I didn't exactly cry myself to sleep, or feel worthless or like I was being treated like a sex-worker over this, but it was DISGUSTING. I had to examine his skin to make sure it was okay, and it actually had signs of potential problems, so I'm glad I did. But seriously, I can't believe that we have to put up with this sort of nonsense!!!
I mean, in what other field in the US is this kind of thing actually tolerated????

unfortantly there are other professions that get treated like guys that are perverts and sickos. They are cashiers, waitresses, bartenders, salespeople, realtors and many more.

karmyk · Jul 9, 2011

We get that quite a bit (physical attacks on RN's, LVN's, CNA's) on my floor, and we're med-surg. We get a lot of ETOH, dementia, etc... and on top of that, a handful of wealthy customers used to get their own way. Unfortunately, we don't get a whole lot of support from management when it happens... a recent registry/traveler got burned out and ended her contract with our hospital because of it (and it happened multiple times to her). It's too bad-- she was a great nurse, and it was sad seeing her leave.

Regarding the other service professions, at least they don't have to give bed baths, peri care, etc. to their perverted clients. I mean... it's one thing when a perverted guy continuously hits on you and you can walk away afterwards... but another if a perverted guy continuously hits on you, and you have to continually clean and elevate his swollen, infected scrotum because he moves it on purpose when you walk out of the room (and we have to round at least once an hour for a twelve hour shift). I think medical floor staff have to take it all above and beyond, and they have to do it with a smile... but I guess that's why we get to enjoy "job security" in our field.

danh3190 · Jul 9, 2011

If you have any male nurses or aides you could assign them to the perverts.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Jul 10, 2011

With some exceptions, as written about above, if a patient physically attacks me, I will press charges. Being sick isn't a free ride to doing anything you want to do...