Safety

Yes, I have had physical violence from a few patients. They were disoriented, confused and we were able to medicate the patients and if necessary, put them in some kind of physical restraints for their own safety. You'll get good training about needle sticks, infections, etc. and there are precautions in place.

I have been in many situations where I have encountered physical violence from patients...but I work psych, so sometimes it goes with the territory...I and my coworkers are trained on how to deal with violent individuals...

Seek opportunities to educate yourself on the things about which you are most apprehensive...it tends to make you less fearful...best of luck!

Well, funny you should ask :-) I was struck by a confused resident tonight. He has Alzheimers, experiences sundowning, and had no nap this afternoon. His primary nurse requested my assistance and we were attempting to help him to bed using a mechanical lift. When he became agitated, his wife interfered and slapped him. This obviously agitated him more, we made the wife life and he still fought us. We were unable to leave him alone because his safety would have been compromised.

Long story short, he began swinging again and he caught me in the chin. It still stings, and I've been wondering what my coworker and I could have done differently. I wasn't the only staff who ended up being struck.

Needle sticks, MRSA, etc are a known job hazards, this is why precautions are in place and are to be observed. This is risk health care providers assume when we undertake these careers.

Have any of you been endangered due to being a nurse? Have you had physical violence from pt or their family? What about accidental needle sticks or staph infections MRSA etc?

Help! I am new and afraid!

well I have been punched and kicked numerous times, but like somebody said it comes with the territory. I pay it no mind since the majority of the patients happen to be confused and disoriented.

As for a needlestick it feels like your whole world has collapsed. At least for me it did. I was drawing blood on a patient and he moved as I was switching the tubes into the vacutainer and somehow my index finger went in and the needle stuck me. I immediately ran to the sink and bled my finger. The patient refused to take an HIV test so I went on combavair for a month, thankfully I did not contract anything and had no side effects to the medication.

There are some risks to nursing but I feel that the good outway the bad more often than not.

Well, funny you should ask :-) I was struck by a confused resident tonight. He has Alzheimers, experiences sundowning, and had no nap this afternoon. His primary nurse requested my assistance and we were attempting to help him to bed using a mechanical lift. When he became agitated, his wife interfered and slapped him. This obviously agitated him more, we made the wife life and he still fought us. We were unable to leave him alone because his safety would have been compromised.

Long story short, he began swinging again and he caught me in the chin. It still stings, and I've been wondering what my coworker and I could have done differently. I wasn't the only staff who ended up being struck.

Needle sticks, MRSA, etc are a known job hazards, this is why precautions are in place and are to be observed. This is risk health care providers assume when we undertake these careers.

the wife needs to be reported for elder abuse.....you are mandated reporters, yes? if you dont, you could be in trouble, esp if they have children and they get wind of it.....

The drive to and from work is the riskiest part of my day.

Who knows when I might encounter the deadliest mammal in the USA(deer).

Yes, it's being reported. But I've going over what options we didn't use to attempt to calm him down, things like that.

the wife needs to be reported for elder abuse.....you are mandated reporters, yes? if you dont, you could be in trouble, esp if they have children and they get wind of it.....

I am sure pediatric nurses get hit to.

You come at a child with a needle of some type, child freaks, punches out, hits nurse.