Thinking about getting a gun for safety

Julius Seizure · Mar 2, 2018

I can't really think of a bad situation that you might run into working as a home health nurse, in which having a gun in your vehicle would improve things. However, I do understand that it might make you feel safer, and I am glad to know that you plan to do all the right training to carry safely.

Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA · Mar 2, 2018

I think you carrying could place you in a bad area with justifiable interpretation. It could put you in a situation that could screw you over. When I was in the military, I was told that if I deploy to a war zone like the middle east, that the firearm I would carry would have no ammunition in it for obvious reasons. Unless I was infantry or sniper or in a tank, I would have no ammunition on me whatsoever. Then there was "what if a little iraqi boy aims an AK-47 at me and my team, do I kill him" question that won't be necessary for this article.

Libby1987 · Mar 2, 2018

There is such minimal data on violence against skilled intermittent home health care staff, I'd love it if someone could find some. Everything I have ever been able to find is in a different setting or within the patient's home. And most commonly it's by the patient. Or family. Or pet. Or stairs. I bet stairs and curbs cause more LOAs or career ending injuries in home health.. Oh, and then there are the driving related injuries. But a gun obviously isn't going to help you in the home.

I have opinions about fear and being a good fit for home health but my opinion will be meaningless to anyone thinking a gun on the job is something to seriously consider.

Glycerine82, LPN · Mar 2, 2018

IMO, not a good idea unless you are going to leave it in your locked glove compartment. Absolutely do NOT carry it into someones home with you. Not only could a psych patient get it and use it against you, but you can't guarantee it will stay put while pushing, pulling, bending, twisting and you certainly can't leave it in a bag unattended.

MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN · Mar 2, 2018

Liability comes to mind when you talk about carrying a weapon.

I agree with a previous poster who talked about getting proper training if you do get a weapon. Keep in mind in a stressful situation, even with well trained officers, shooting accuracy drops down to only 25-30%. If you are going to carry, please get proper training, not just how to use a gun, but safety training as well.

Mr_Edwino · Mar 2, 2018

Did you consider getting a taser? much safer, user friendly option.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 2, 2018

Hmmm...I did home health for a very brief period of time in the early 90's. I had a gun pulled on me...my best weapon was my very big and bulky cell phone.

So...if this gun is in your car, are your pts/families in the car with you? You are more likely to get in trouble in the home versus the car.

Workplace violence against homecare workers and its relationship with workers health outcomes: a cross-sectional study

Overall, 61.3% of female homecare workers in the consumer-driven model experienced at least one type of workplace violence in the past year. Our estimate of the prevalence of homecare workers experiencing verbal aggression (51.5%), workplace aggression (27.5%), or workplace violence (24.7%), sexual harassment (27.6%) and sexual aggression (12.8%) in this study is consistent with, or higher than, those of other studies [7,8,17]. The findings of this study add to the small but growing body of evidence that workplace violence is a serious occupational hazard for homecare workers.

Personally, even 20 some years later - I would never ever ever ever do home care....

**emergenceRN17, ASN, BSN, RN** · Mar 2, 2018

I think it is a great idea to take a firearm safety course, and if you feel comfortable after completion you can apply for a license and maybe even purchase your own firearm if you wish.

However, I do not think that you will be able to carry it with you during work. You may have to leave it in your vehicle which that in itself comes with strict guidelines. (How it is locked up)

Best of luck!

OldDude · Mar 2, 2018

I can't really think of a bad situation that you might run into working as a home health nurse, in which having a gun in your vehicle would improve things. However, I do understand that it might make you feel safer, and I am glad to know that you plan to do all the right training to carry safely.

The home health aspect really isn't relevant, it's the exposure to the general public in between visits while driving, etc. In other words, if you spend a great deal of your work day in the car your odds of encountering a threat to your safety increase.

caliotter3 · Mar 2, 2018

Hmmm...I did home health for a very brief period of time in the early 90's. I had a gun pulled on me...my best weapon was my very big and bulky cell phone.
So...if this gun is in your car, are your pts/families in the car with you? You are more likely to get in trouble in the home versus the car.
Workplace violence against homecare workers and its relationship with workers health outcomes: a cross-sectional study
Overall, 61.3% of female homecare workers in the consumer-driven model experienced at least one type of workplace violence in the past year. Our estimate of the prevalence of homecare workers experiencing verbal aggression (51.5%), workplace aggression (27.5%), or workplace violence (24.7%), sexual harassment (27.6%) and sexual aggression (12.8%) in this study is consistent with, or higher than, those of other studies [7,8,17]. The findings of this study add to the small but growing body of evidence that workplace violence is a serious occupational hazard for homecare workers.
Personally, even 20 some years later - I would never ever ever ever do home care....

Home health nurses who have been assaulted, stalked, or otherwise suffered physical and emotional injury related to the job, really do exist. Carrying the weapon into the homes of clients doesn't have to be a consideration when the employer at the time of the workplace violence helps to insure that the victim doesn't have to worry about working. Not insult to injury, but another example of excellent self interest on the part of employers.

OldDude · Mar 2, 2018

Hmmm...I did home health for a very brief period of time in the early 90's. I had a gun pulled on me...my best weapon was my very big and bulky cell phone. ya I
So...if this gun is in your car, are your pts/families in the car with you? You are more likely to get in trouble in the home versus the car.
Workplace violence against homecare workers and its relationship with workers health outcomes: a cross-sectional study
Overall, 61.3% of female homecare workers in the consumer-driven model experienced at least one type of workplace violence in the past year. Our estimate of the prevalence of homecare workers experiencing verbal aggression (51.5%), workplace aggression (27.5%), or workplace violence (24.7%), sexual harassment (27.6%) and sexual aggression (12.8%) in this study is consistent with, or higher than, those of other studies [7,8,17]. The findings of this study add to the small but growing body of evidence that workplace violence is a serious occupational hazard for homecare workers.
Personally, even 20 some years later - I would never ever ever ever do home care....

Me too, I tried home health and hated it. My wife loves it, she hasn't been assaulted physically by patients or families but has been bitten by several dogs and a few cats and nearly bitten by a "pet" javelina that chased her to her car. Her boss was mauled by a patient's pit bull and never returned to working in the field. My wife has had to undergo the rabies series from being bitten by a stray dog in the yard of a patient's house.

wondern, ASN · Mar 2, 2018

OMG...a javelin! :nailbiting:

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Is a javelina like a little one?