LV2SV

I used to pick up the drunks from the local PD and bring them into the ER, now I'm taking care of them in the ER! Remember one thing...your first priority is SAFETY! Your's, everyone else in your department and your patients. You must take steps to ensure everyones safety first. Whether this is restraints, or the police. You said your PD won't "take them to the drunk tank," fine, but as long as they are able to stumble towards the door, they can be arrested for drunk in public. They may not take them downtown, but they must post an officer at the door of the pt's room, for SAFETY! Other than this, what traumaRUs said is right on! Don't forget, A&B on a nurse is a felony, don't let anyone get away with this!!! It may be a good idea to be familiar with what A&B complications are in you city. An unsolicited touch or a threat of bodily harm is usually all it takes, and while you may not press charges, a lot of times this is a good bargaining chip for good behavior. However, there will always be the out of control ones who simply must be 4-point restrained.