Pt took a swing at me today!

[FroggyMama]

OK, get report, start the day by giving morning insulins as the trays come. Walk into pt's rm, knock loudly, call his name, no response. Get closer to bed, call name again, pt jumps up, cussing and screaming, and tries to backhand me in the face!!! I jump back, he keeps cussing, and all heck breaks loose. Loooong story short, he walks AMA. AAAArrrrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!

So when did nurses become punching bags for freaks? I swear he was a meth head. All the more fun. I am soooo tired of this crap! Supervisor was good, she said if he touched me she'd call the cops, but dang! Not the way I wanted to start a 12hr shift! I had enough adrenaline, it would have been a very very bad thing if he would have hit me. I'd be in jail.

And that's the thing--they can do whatever they want to us, and we have to take it. We can't even defend ourselves! WE turn into the bad guy if we practice self defense! Why oh why didn't I go to law school or something??!? Maybe been an accountant???

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

But, I did get punched in the face by a LOM who did not like the fact that I didn't have "ahem" bosoms for him to grope while we were changing him....

you should have told him to close his eyes and given him a bag of lactated ringers to squeeze.

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

I should try that next time...just like having implants.

[JustaGypsy]

Sure, Canoe...

-the heel of your hand to the area between the upper and lower jaw... Keeps head still on bed, gives an area of leverage and they cannot bite you:D

-Hold onto the hair if they have it. It really hurts. Tell them to stop pulling and it will stop hurting. Works 90+ percent of the time. One can also use this tactic to steady the head when inserting an NG tube for charcoal. I know it doesn't seem nice, but it's a whole lot better than being intubated!

-pen, or other similar shaped object across the base of the nail, press moderate pressure on yourself and see how fast you stop.

Sorry I am too tired to think of any others...

[Scrubby]

If a patient ever tried to bash me then I would definitely fight back. I'm not going to just put up with someone trying to injure me, I will do whatever is necessary to defend myself even if it means knocking someone unconscious.

[Jules A, MSN]

Yeah, in pediatric psych we are hit, kicked at, spit on etc. almost daily. You get good at ducking.

[SunnyAndrsn]

I'm so sorry! I've had a couple of Alzheimer's pts swing at me, the wife of one felt soooo bad. Although I understand that the guy couldn't help it, I still don't like the guy.

OK, get report, start the day by giving morning insulins as the trays come. Walk into pt's rm, knock loudly, call his name, no response. Get closer to bed, call name again, pt jumps up, cussing and screaming, and tries to backhand me in the face!!! I jump back, he keeps cussing, and all heck breaks loose. Loooong story short, he walks AMA. AAAArrrrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!

So when did nurses become punching bags for freaks? I swear he was a meth head. All the more fun. I am soooo tired of this crap! Supervisor was good, she said if he touched me she'd call the cops, but dang! Not the way I wanted to start a 12hr shift! I had enough adrenaline, it would have been a very very bad thing if he would have hit me. I'd be in jail.

And that's the thing--they can do whatever they want to us, and we have to take it. We can't even defend ourselves! WE turn into the bad guy if we practice self defense! Why oh why didn't I go to law school or something??!? Maybe been an accountant???