Reporting a Patient to Police?

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

Hi all, has anyone made a police report against an assaultive patient? Yesterday my coworker was assaulted by an alert and oriented male patient, punched in the face and thrown on the ground. One of our male coworkers helped her up and then the patient destroyed the room, ripped out chunks of the walls, etc. It took 3 deputies to restrain him. He spit all over the deputies.

The deputies encouraged my friend to report to police. The patient is 18 and has a diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder. Originally came in for overdose, medically cleared for 2 days, but no psych beds available. The psychiatrist kept telling management it wasn't safe for him to be on a medical floor. We often have these strong male patients, and a lot of female staff get injured. Our male coworkers are wonderful and come to the rescue, but sometimes it still happens. Is this just what it means to be an inpatient nurse? Does anyone's hospital have a good way of preventing these incidents?

I didn't know when I signed up for the job that the description included defending myself against large, violent men. I stay in shape, but I will never have a chance against a huge angry man. I am still researching what exactly "oppositional defiant disorder" is. Deputies said we should also report him for property crime. I am usually against sending people to jail, but this pt seems like an actual danger. Everyone constantly de-escalating, we treated him nicely but often had to restrain him, and his behaviors just couldn't be controlled. He tried to attack anyone who went near him. What is the solution for these kinds of patients?

[MelEpiRN]

Violence against healthcare workers is a huge topic of concern and unfortunately all to common. I have never needed to file a police report, but I am surprised (and saddened) that your facility doesn't have a policy/procedure about this. (Are you sure they don't)? Do they at least offer de-escalation education?

My facility is very responsive about assault. Clear expectations of conduct for patients and visitors. Our admins are very supportive. Patients get flagged in EPIC for an abuse history. Safety plans are enacted and discussed with staff so everybody is aware of any patient on one. (This includes patients who are victims of violence so staff are aware of potential external threats). The admins are made aware of this daily. Unfortunately incidents still occur, but we are actively trying to decrease it.

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

Where I work a nurse was kicked by a patient. Management encouraged her to report it to the police and backed her 100%. I would hope all hospitals do the same.

We should never tolerate assaults on us, physical or verbal.

[Wuzzie]

Heck yes I would file charges. In my state it's a felony to attack health care workers.

[EllaBella1, BSN]

I was kicked a few months ago by an alert and oriented adult male patient. Management encouraged me to file a police report.

I have found that police might not always be willing to investigate though or file charges. We had a nurse who was punched in the face and ended up with multiple facial fractures, and police refused to file charges because they felt that the patient didn't have the capacity to know what they were doing. Which in my opinion shouldn't be on the police to determine...

[Wuzzie]

4 minutes ago, EllaBella1 said:

Which in my opinion shouldn't be on the police to determine...

It isn't. That is the prosecutors job.

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

50 minutes ago, EllaBella1 said:

I was kicked a few months ago by an alert and oriented adult male patient. Management encouraged me to file a police report.

I have found that police might not always be willing to investigate though or file charges. We had a nurse who was punched in the face and ended up with multiple facial fractures, and police refused to file charges because they felt that the patient didn't have the capacity to know what they were doing. Which in my opinion shouldn't be on the police to determine...

WOW!, that is horrible! The police should have no say in that. I hope your coworker is OK. Our deputies were good and helped her with the report. Our hospital is not good at safety planning. We have tons of assaultive patients. Some altered from substances or psychosis. The worst in my opinion are alert and oriented. This pt was on a 5250 so we couldn't discharge him home. While we were finding a facility we had to have him out of restraints for 4 hrs for anyone to accept him.

He was OK all day with male nurse doing 1:1. The nurse went to nurse station to give report to next facility, he called and got upset when the person he tried to call on the phone didn't answer, blamed it on the female nurse and attacked her. He was more aggressive to females, maybe because they are easier targets. (except our coworker who throws shot-put! He didn't mess with her!). @MelEpiRN your facility sounds wonderful at handling violent patients. Prevention is more effective than reacting in the moment.

We all feel guilty for not going over to check when we heard him yelling at her. I think we are so used to getting yelled at we don't even react unless things get physical. She was out in the hallway and things got quiet so those of us who started to go over went back to work. He suddenly jumped into the hall and attacked. I'm glad our male coworker got there first to help her up, because although I ran there I don't know what I could have done if he continued attacking. Thanks to all for your support and feedback! I just heard the patient is going to jail! I can't believe it. But I think someone in their right mind who did this should.

[JKL33]

3 hours ago, LibraNurse27 said:

The psychiatrist kept telling management it wasn't safe for him to be on a medical floor. We often have these strong male patients, and a lot of female staff get injured.

This is straight up negligence on your employer's part.

It also does not sound like his med-psych therapy was being optimized.

I realize it isn't an easy situation when a patient needs a bed that is unavailable, but the answer does not involve putting the patient in with a general population of patients and sending the staff in and just "we'll see what happens."

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

4 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

This is straight up negligence on your employer's part.

It also does not sound like his med-psych therapy was being optimized.

I realize it isn't an easy situation when a patient needs a bed that is unavailable, but the answer does not involve putting the patient in with a general population of patients and sending the staff in and just "we'll see what happens."

Exactly! The psychiatrist is wonderful and he was SO stressed. Kept coming to the unit to check even though he had a million things going on. Kept calling all over for a placement for him. Said behavior so severe even our psych unit couldn't handle, plus they are full. He talked to our manager, the house supervisor, the DON, the medical director, and the safety director. Nothing! He feels so guilty like the rest of us, but IDK what else he could have done. He is a tiny guy and he even went in with the male nurses and deputies to help restrain. He is our gay Prince Charming LOL. I am writing a letter to management now, we'll see if anything happens.

[JKL33]

5 minutes ago, LibraNurse27 said:

He feels so guilty like the rest of us, but IDK what else he could have done.

I can think of a few things?

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. Before I send my letter. It's getting ridiculous.

[cardiacfreak, ADN]

I have been assaulted (received a broken thumb) and did not report it to the police, but my situation was not with an alert and oriented patient.