Punched by a patient

[nurseontheway]

If you are punched by a patient do you have any rights? Is that grounds for someone to be discharged from a facility?

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

4 hours ago, Kooky Korky said:

Those who say they reported crimes but nothing came of it - it's because you didn't follow through with an attorney of your own and with the Prosecuting Attorney.

My sister was a prosecutor so I know a bit about this - The persecutor does not decide tp peruse a case because an injured party harasses them into it. They decide to prosecute case that they think they can get a conviction for. Most cases involving a perpetrator with diminished capacity do not get prosecuted for this reason. Also one would likely have a hard time bring a civil suit unless it could be proven that the person had malicious intent when they struck you. This is again very hard to prove in cases where the perpetrator demonstrates diminished capacity. In a case that happened in our facility the injured party lost because they were not following hospital safety rules when they were hit. Civil attorney's only take case they think they can win. Still you should have workman's comp to cover any injury you might incur.

Hppy

[TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN]

Being punched by a patient is absolutely no different than if I walked into your job right now and punched you. Talk to the police and if you want the patient charged, ask how and follow through with it.

And that does include working in psych. Unfortunately, if you're working in a facility that houses violent psych patients, you're pretty much stuck, but OSHA and employment safety boards usually do require them to separate you from what's assaulting you. But if you follow though, it's treated like any other incident. It's treated just like they weren't a patient and punched someone on the street.

[Guest219794]

On 6/30/2019 at 9:03 AM, Jory said:

If you had altered mental status and couldn't make rational decisions, would you want someone to kick you out?

That's one thing....anybody else should be arrested.

This is the extremely rare exception. I can't count how may times I have seen people who are assumed to have AMS or diminished capacity make decisions based on cost/benefit just like the rest of us.

PT posturing, threatening, verbally abusing staff. Police come, and give the PT the choice of complying or getting tased. "Well, on the one hand, it sure is fun being abusive to nurses who aren't in a position to do anything about it. On the other hand, last time I got tased, I peed myself and cried in public.... Maybe I ll just take those meds after all."

As far as the PT who continues to be an *** hole, then gets tased? Rare, but that is the real deal.