Self Defense tactic?

GingerSue · Jul 11, 2007

how quickly can you call for assistance?

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2007

I believe in carrying a Taser

airforcenursewannabe · Jul 12, 2007

if your'e interested in long term study than aikido is a fabulous art consistent in most respects with the professional ideology. if not alot of time to give then krav maga is fantastic as are some of the lesser known sd classes.

when in doubt get out of the way is a good philosopy. I live in philly and although the patient being always right is a good theory I'm not risking my ass to prove it.

incidentally my experiences with violent psych patients is both military and then in nursing school. some in my job as a med tech but mostly second hand.

antidote · Jul 12, 2007

In our facility, we are always told to run or call for help right away. We should never "hit" a patient or even hold them tightly. We are simply told to protect yourself either by somehow "blocking" them, calling for help and waiting for help to arrive (the "help" will apprehend the subject).

Even though this a resource for CNA's and techs, I would suggest you take a look at Lesson 6 (techniques), 19 and 20.

http://deptets.fvtc.edu/nursing/index.htm

trainer2070 · Jul 12, 2007

I dont know how many actual physical confrontations youve been in, but just keep in mind that training in a controlled environment and applying those techniques in a real situation isnt necessarily the same thing.

airforcenursewannabe · Jul 12, 2007

without a doubt but so is nursing school, a controlled environment (reasonably same as any training), but it's requisite before you go "live fire."

you're never REALLY ready, you just try to be as ready as possible. I'm not advocating physical violence. I'm in this field because I've seen more than I ever want to-ever. This is also the reason I mention the study of aikido to anyone who feels themselves afraid and threatened in their lives and careers. We are here to help people. The victims, the hurt and injured. The Sick and dying. Even the assailants. But we are not here to be become victims ourselves.

I am more proud of gently defusing a situation with kindness than of any well executed physical maneuver. Personally, violence scares me to death. Those who are not scared are foolish and as dangerous as a brave man on a battlefield, and likely as unwelcome to their fellows. If you can maintain your wits in the face of terror and behave like a grown up it's the finest moment in the world.

However, you have to protect yourself and that is individual to each situation. Calling for help is critical. Everyone needs backup. But, the police and security are almost always the last ones to the scene of the crime.

As an example from a training environment perspective a nursing instructor "read" an agitated psych patient on the psych ward and began seeing to the quiet exit of the rest of the patients from the common area before the issue even came to a head. a student was sent to summon help and everyone was removed from the area and the patient allowed space before any interventions were attempted by the staff. It was a well handled situation and no one got hurt. That's a good way for it to play out. Now had the patient pinned and assailed the staff member attempting to intervene I would have to hope someone would have pulled the patient off.

This is one of the finest professions in the world and it's practitioners prime examples that the world is full of good caring people, despite the newsworthy examples to the contrary. I am proud to be a part of such an honorable endeavor.

trainer2070 · Jul 12, 2007

I agree that its always a better feeling to be able to deescelate a situation using verbal rather than physical means. However, my main point was to the OP statement that they know and can initiate pain copmliance and other manuevers if need be. While PPCT is great in practice and a semi-cooperative training partner, if you try those techniques on a real combative individual and your most likely to get seriously injured. I see your point stating that just like nursing school you learn in controlled environments and need to apply it in real life. However, theres a big difference between facing multiple attackers, single attackers or having a gun, knife or other weapon pulled on you in a real life situation then there is in a controlled training environment. If you mess up in the training room you get bruised maybe a slight injury, you mess up in a real situation youre family can come see you in ICU or the morgue.

Id rather have someone in that situation try and escape and evade and get immediate assistance from anyone near by then go at the assailant with the PPCT or similiar self defense mind set.

Obviously there are exceptions when you don't have a choice but to engage the assailant but in those instances you need to be the attacker and not the defender.

And yes I've been in more then my fair share of violent situations in my career consisting of USMC, corrections, nightclub and hospital security.