Rok'en Sok'em in the ALF

[KittyCorn]

yesterday at work, one of my residents in the alf became outraged at another resident who lives in the independent housing. this particular resident came out of his room and started cursing and saying that the independent resident didn't belong there and to get the hell out, then he struck him with his back hand against his forehead and rammed his walker into his leg. i immediately took action in order for the safety and welfare of each. i assessed each resident from head to toe of course, notified the manager and continued to f/u with each residents statements. the manager came, called the families and made her report. btw, nobody was injured. after the manager spoke to the resident who became outraged, she came to me saying that he had told her that he was inlove with me and was trying to protect me. i told my manager that he had admitted to cursing the independent resident out and told him to leave but also that he was a whore monger all his life and always will be and that he knew him years ago. he never said anything about being inlove with me. well, this particular resident had been taking an anti-psychotic but it was discontinued suddenly by his physician at the daughters request about 6 months ago because apparently he had been cheekin them and saving them in cup in his room during the week. i found out about this one w/e from a shift report the weekday nurse had left. so, to make a long story short, this particular resident had been having behavioral problems all along with verbal outbursts to other residents and staff, he has two way conversations with himself while in the bathroom (whispers to himself and answers himself). all this has been documented as well as him calling me by the name of peaches, which i really didn't mind but i told him that it wasn't very professional and that others might hear him calling me this and be offended. well, he understood this but continued to call me this. he has never told me that he was inlove with me although he did once say that if he were younger, he would take care of me. i've never done anything to provoke this resident to have these feelings for me and i'm very sorry this happened but now the daughter is calling me on my cell phone about it (the nurses numbers are posted on the managers door). I'm not sure how she got my number but i phoned the manager and told her what happened. the daughter is trying to get legal guardianship over resident. i'm not working today but i'm very curious what will happen. has anyone ever had a similar experience?

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I think it is horrible that somehow, this family gained access to your personal number...even if it is a cell phone. In the future, if they contact you again, tell them nicely that this is not a business phone, but used for the FACILITY...not them to contact you, and refer them to the appropriate parties.

Yes, I have had a psych patient profess love for me for no unknown reason. I reported it to the powers that be and they dealt with it. It is not a comfortable feeling, because what provokes the average person to believe that someone is interested is not the same for these poor delusional people. But, to keep yourself on the safe side legally, please refer the family to your supervisor and discourage them from contacting you on your personal time and personal phone.

[KittyCorn]

thanks for your response. i notified my manager already.

[VM85]

I would think that especially since he has a history of violence and delusions, that he would be admitted the to pysch for an evaluation and hopefully they would get him managed on medications. I am new at this but that seems like it would be proper. This rsident poses a threat to himself and others and with his history, it sounds more like he was not in touch with reality at the time of the attck- You were not in harms way and it is unacceptable to attack anyone no matter what the reason.

And I would definitly set your boundaries. With the residents and with their families. It is unacceptable to get phone calls on your personal line, from family members of residents. If something needs to be addressed right there and then and you are the only person that can help, have the staff call you for the family member. You should definitly speak up, not only because its an inconvience and improper but because of word twisting and possible accusations could come up and you have no one there as a witness. Its fine to speak with family members at work and deal with them as well as residents, but there is no way I would EVER do that. I have my own life and I would never have the nerve to do that!!!!