ArcticNurse

wow, Ruby Vee you've opened my eyes!! I mean I know it's possible for this kind of violence to happen but I didn't know it could happen this many times around or with the same person. What came of those patients who abused you? Was there any repercussions? I have to wonder if most nurses do not report abuse between nurse and patient because they feel nothing will come of it. AN:eek:

That's interesting your take on violence. I have to agree with you that nurses are not a verbal punching bag for our patients. But what about nurses being verbally abused by doctors or co-workers? I have to admit I believe verbal abuse must be the most common. According to a newspaper article most nurse don't even report abuse. Why do think this is so?? AN:o

When you think of violence do you immediately think of physical abuse? And do you think about abuse being between nurse and patient? Abuse is so common in the workplace for nurses but I'm wondering how common is it? What kind of abuse is the most common? And who does it happen the most between (patient & nurse, nurse & doctor, or nurse & nurse?). I'd be interested in hearing other peoples views and interpretation on violence in the workplace. Some might believe verbal abuse is not 'real' abuse. Or that verbal abuse is okay if the patient is not in their right mind. AN:eek:

How prevalent is violence in the workplace for nurses? After reading several articles indicating that nurse deal with a lot of day to day violence I began to wonder how other's deal with this issue. When I began to read the article I first thought of violence as being physical but then read on to see that the article defined violence as being verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. I further surprised to read that violence in the workplace did not necessarily mean between nurse and patient but also between nurse and doctor and more horrifying in my opinion, between nurse and nurse. I then looked at my own situation and could immediately remember two incidents of verbal abuse. In my first experience it was with an elderly lady who had dementia. My first reaction to the way she was treating me was to be hurt, and then I remembered her state of mind and I used a kind, firm voice and told she could not treat me like that and if she needed something she could ask me nicely. My second experience was a year later with an older gentleman who had all his faculties. He was unreasonable, irate, and called me several names for something that was out of my control. Again, I was hurt at first but then came anger at how unfair he was treating me. I became defensive and left the room. The 'event' in which he was angry over was not resolved or talked about again between us but I managed to find some commonality between us which kept my patient talking about happy times traveling around the country. I don't know if I handle the situation properly or not but I am curious as to others and if they have experienced any violence in the work place? Also, how often would you say it occurs in a month for yourself? As well as how you handled the situation. Do you think there should be some sort of harassment policy developed within the workplace between nurse and patient? Or if there is one in place does it work? I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this subject. Thanks, ArticNurse

Curious to know how people feel about who makes a better nurse in general. Mature students who have life experience to bring to their patients or fresh out of high school students who are young and energetic? There are always exceptions to the rule, but I want to know in general how people feel simply from observation or experience. AN:eek: