I read a while back on here about a nurse who was assaulted by a patient, who had kissed her. I responded quite vehemently at the time, but have had cause to rethink my stand, and am now in a position to sympathize and identify with what she must have felt like.
Long story short, obnoxious patient, had cursed everyone out that had come in his room, was being abusive to the nurses and ancillary staff until I showed up. He was being a real peach in general, and I asked about a test he had had done away from the hospital, as I needed the records. He did not know the doc who did the test, but he did have the # in his phone. I asked if I could have it, and suddenly I was his Angel of Mercy. I was the only one who had paid attention to him in 12 hours. I was IT!
And so he proceeds to tell the doc how wonderful I am, how inferior he is, and embarrassed the crap out of me in front of my colleagues. (I apologized about 10 times, the doc thought it was humorous) Several happenstances later, I notify doc of the potential for a long delay in testing for this patient, and he says that he would let him go home, if he had anyone to follow up with. Cue me to pull the # from my pocket. Doc sets everything up, I head off the floor, only to be intercepted by Mr. Wonderful, who, upon hearing the happy news, grabs me by my shoulders and leans in. I don't know what he was aiming for, but I ducked and he got my head.
I was so mad and so sick, I could not eat lunch. I wanted to wash my face with alcohol.
So, I tell my DH about all this, and he says I brought it on myself! Said that I had no business trying to get him out of there, that I should have just let him rot, as he put it.
Now, I remember when I was a floor nurse, and all the abuse I used to take. I would have dearly loved for someone to take steps to get rid of an abusive patient, be it the doc, NP, or whomever. And now that I am in a position to do something about it, I did. To the best of my ability, and as quickly as I could. Was I wrong for that? DID I bring it on myself?
I still feel dirty, despite several, and I mean SEVERAL baths over the weekend. I know it's a natural reaction, but to those of you who can sympathize, how do you get over it? I honestly stopped short of decking the guy, for fear of keeping my job. Had it not been for that, and the fact that I was so stunned, he'd have been bloody.
I apologize for the ramble. I know of the one that posted earlier about a similar occurrence, but has anyone else had this happen? WHY do patients think it's OK to kiss on people they don't know from Adam's housecat? Ugh!
How did you handle it? How long before it stops feeling icky?
And to the poster who went through this earlier, you have my deepest sympathy.
I don't see how you "brought it on yourself". Maybe apologizing 10 times made you appear as meek ? Perhaps the guy thought he could get away with kissing you? I dunno. Good cat like reflexes though. In any event you could file assault charges for being grabbed. It's a felony in some states to assault a health care worker.
During a physical transfer, I had an old lady reach over and kiss my cheek. Both my hands were occupied; so, I was unable to slug her. My girlfriend wasn't very understanding either. I guess there are always accidental headbutts.
I'm a person why really dislikes contact from patients and their families, especially when I'm forced into a "customer service" role. Because I feel so strongly, I've made a practiced habit of replying... "thank you, but in the future please tell me verbally, anything else makes me uncomfortable".
OUr patient who was here a month had a touchy-feely wife, gave me the creeps...she was the sweetest woman who had no idea of personal space. I became skilled at keeping an eye out for her and avoiding. Some people just never get it and it doesn't reflect upon you.
Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.
Well, the doc knew, as does everyone that I work with, that meek is about the LAST thing I am. DH is well aware of that. The patient knew that, since I had pretty well set him on his ear after he started in getting snippity with me.
All the brouhaha at work has kinda died down for now, thank mercy. I was getting a bit tired of all the teasing. Thanks again, guys.
KungFuFtr
297 Posts
I don't see how you "brought it on yourself". Maybe apologizing 10 times made you appear as meek ? Perhaps the guy thought he could get away with kissing you? I dunno. Good cat like reflexes though. In any event you could file assault charges for being grabbed. It's a felony in some states to assault a health care worker.
During a physical transfer, I had an old lady reach over and kiss my cheek. Both my hands were occupied; so, I was unable to slug her. My girlfriend wasn't very understanding either. I guess there are always accidental headbutts.