I went into my patient's room to introduce myself. It looked like he needed a boost and the PCT was in the room. I smiled at him and said, "cross your arms," while demonstrating what he should do. Instead of crossing him arms, he took a full swing at me and slapped me across my face as hard as he could. It hurt really bad and even left a mark on my face. I ran out of the room in tears. I filled out an incident report with the manager and we notified the nursing supervisor. They asked if I wanted to go to the ED but I declined.
He did not speak English so it's hard to say if he's completely alert and oriented and everyone just assumes he's confused. I looked at the physician notes on admission and it did say he was alert and oriented times 3. No history of dementia was noted. We called the family and they stated, "he did this all the time at the nursing home." That makes me so angry. Abuse like this should never be tolerated.
Should I have called the police? I've read about nurses pressing charges for things like this. When I mentioned it, everyone acted like I was crazy.
I don't get it, what good would calling the police do? If he lives in a nursing home, I'm sure they won't press charges. This wasn't some guy who just walked into the ER. This was an obviously confused LTC resident who was admitted to the hospital. Horrible that it happened, but he can't be held accountable for his actions.
Just because he's alert and oriented doesn't mean he isn't mentally unstable. Someone can be A and O x3 and still be crazy as all get out. This seems like more than just a language barrier to me. I'm doubtful there's anything a nurse could do legally. If he was living in a nursing home, I don't think he can be held responsible for his actions.
Nursing home residents aren't responsible for their actions?
A little frustrated with some of these posters. This poor nurse gets slapped, and some of you try to point the finger at her by saying, "he deserves to receive care in a language he can understand" and that she should have assessed his mental status better?! He was slumped down in the bed, for heaven's sake. Did you want her to leave him all slumped down while she assessed him? Sometimes I feel like allnurses is not a supportive environment at all, as claimed. OP, I'm sorry that happened to you. If this man does not receive a legitimate psych diagnosis, I would absolutely press charges. That's not ok.
The OP did everything she was supposed to. And I certainly hope there was some sort of follow up. A psych evaluation or increase in meds or something. But I just don't understand what good calling the police would do. I've been in nursing homes where aides and nurses have been injured by residents. It's rare but it does happen. Something is always done, paperwork is filled out, meds are increased, sometimes restraints are used. But we can't "press charges" against the patient. They wouldn't be living there in the first place if they were competent. Maybe it's different in a hospital, I don't know....
Im sorry this happened to you. I had a patient squeeze my boobs, & before I knew it I punched him dead in the chest! I told my nurse manager and she didn't write me up. However, he knew better. The next time I came in the room he kept his hands to himself.
Wow at some of these responses. Sorry OP that this happened to you. One of my biggest fears in nursing is assault but it's always a possibility in this career.
For the posters complaining about the OP not using the language line, the patient was slumped down in the bed! It was honestly a freak accident on her part.
Regardless of not speaking the same language, if he is AOx3, not hitting someone in the face is obvious. Second language issues may compound dementia, but alone are no excuse for HITTING SOMEONE IN THE FACE.
I cannot believe some people are implying that an alert and oriented patient should not be held responsible because there was a language barrier and he could have been scared and just reacting. What a load of BS! The language barrier goes both ways, and I'm sure the OP was scared, would it have been ok if she just "reacted" and hit him back?! I guarantee you'd all be saying she was wrong for that, just as he is completely in the wrong. Regardless of the language barrier and his potential fear, if he was a&ox3 then he knew he was in a hospital and could tell she was a health care worker. Of course its a completely different story if he was demented/altered mental status. But even so, its disturbing that his family was oh this happens all the time as if its no big deal.
BrandonLPN, LPN
3,358 Posts