How do you handle it? Had a patient almost hit me squarely with a knuckle sandwich and the aide (sitter) in the room freaked and stated she would demand not to be on the case any longer. Called for family to come in to see patient; patient calmed down...eventually.
Let me know your tai chi of dealing with violence, common in this day and age. What is your secret to handling a violent SOB?! and I don't mean short of breath LOL
Funny cartoon at icu journal! (click on website link)
I would absolutely file assault and battery charges against any patient or visitor who struck me or raised a hand against me. I don't care if they are demented or not. We have to take verbal abuse from other staff, MDs, and patients as part of the job without fighting back, without legal recourse. I have legal recourse, however, against physical violence.
Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.
:angryfireUsed to work at a psych facility, was fortunate enough not to be seriously hurt (I'm pretty little, about 5' 3" and 125#), but my charge nurse was thrown to the ground and kicked in the head because she refused to let a patient go smoke whenever he wanted. The judge told her she could not press charges because he was in a mental hospital, EVEN THOUGH the guy stood there and said, "Yeah, I kicked her. The b***h would not let me smoke!" Obviously he was in his right mind. Burned everybody that worked there up.
Selke
543 Posts
I would absolutely file assault and battery charges against any patient or visitor who struck me or raised a hand against me. I don't care if they are demented or not. We have to take verbal abuse from other staff, MDs, and patients as part of the job without fighting back, without legal recourse. I have legal recourse, however, against physical violence.