Should this have been reported to DSS?

No opinions here? What does your gut tell you?

A 73 year old woman was admitted for a fall, at time of admission her blood alcohol level was 70. She had bruises to her right hip, no fracture. No bruises or other wounds in different stages of healing. Her son was in the room with her and she was thrashing around in bed confused, he had been called in to sit with her and was the last resort to restraints. With a nurse in the room she reached towards him thrashing and he slapped her on the hand and told her to calm down, then after talking to the nurse he requested the restraints applied and left five minutes afterward. What would you have done? The nurse who witnessed the event talked with him in regards to the slap on the hand and he stated it was instinct, he slapped his 5 year old on the hand and it just happened. It was reported, what would you have done?

I would not make a big deal of this. I mean, really.. How harsh is a simple pop on the hand? Not that a professional would have any business doing this, but this was a family member. As he explained, he has small children, and I know when mine were toddlers, a simple pop on the hand did more to scare them then anything else. In this ladies case, I doubt it even registered with her. Now, if you witnessed him smacking her upside the head or punching her something equally abusive, I would definately take action, but you say that shortly after he did this he realized she needed restraints and left. Sounds to me he was feeling rather helpless and guilty.

But YOU were the nurse on duty, and IMO, it's entirely your call. When Pt's get combative, we have people restrain them in much more physically insulting manners than this.

But I think its a good thing that you are questioning this, and were it me, I would pay particular attention to future visits from this son. But as it stands, it sounds like he was very frustrated, and quickly felt guilty and realized the error of his ways. WHY have DSS involved and make his family more miserable than they already involved if there were no prior signs of abuse? JMHO, of course. :)

I would not make a big deal of this. I mean, really.. How harsh is a simple pop on the hand? Not that a professional would have any business doing this, but this was a family member. As he explained, he has small children, and I know when mine were toddlers, a simple pop on the hand did more to scare them then anything else. In this ladies case, I doubt it even registered with her. Now, if you witnessed him smacking her upside the head or punching her something equally abusive, I would definately take action, but you say that shortly after he did this he realized she needed restraints and left. Sounds to me he was feeling rather helpless and guilty.

But YOU were the nurse on duty, and IMO, it's entirely your call. When Pt's get combative, we have people restrain them in much more physically insulting manners than this.

But I think its a good thing that you are questioning this, and were it me, I would pay particular attention to future visits from this son. But as it stands, it sounds like he was very frustrated, and quickly felt guilty and realized the error of his ways. WHY have DSS involved and make his family more miserable than they already involved if there were no prior signs of abuse? JMHO, of course. :)

OOOPs, just realized you were NOT the nurse on duty. Sorry 'bout that, but I maintain that it shows your professionism to question this action. Please forgive. :)

Thank you for your response, my initial opinion was to watch closely and notify nurses who care for this patient. I was not assigned the patient but was in charge the evening it happened and neither myself or the nurse assigned felt that it should be reported. I told the assigned nurse to pass it on to the oncoming nurse. When she did that the oncoming nurse took it upon herself to report the situation to DSS..from heresay! I was called at home the next night (my night off) to explain the situation, apparantly the investigation was in full effect and they were banning the son from the hospital etc. just a huge mess

No, since it was her son trying to calm her.

If it had of been a staff member- then yes

Or if he had slapped her accross the face- then yes

For an elderly woman to be that intoxicated-

something is terribly wrong and the dept. of social services

will probably be getting involved- I would think.