Threatened by patient

CelticGoddess, BSN, RN · May 31, 2015

I work in OB and tonight I was threatened by a patient. She actually was chasing be down the hall when a coworker intervened and stopped her. I called the nursing supervisor who was on her way up to the unit with security when the charge nurse told her not to come or bring security in order to " not get patient worked up again". Needless to say I'm disappointed. If it was the other way around and I threatened to physically harm a patient security, police and the BON would have been called. However, patients are allowed to treat staff however they want to with little to no consequences.

Not where I work. There is something wrong with this picture. If a patient, whether pregnant or not, threatens staff, it's policy (at my facility) for security to be called. The last time I was threatened (actually, I was assaulted by a patient) we had 5 security guards show up. Pt was having bad reaction to medication and that still didn't stop security from coming (and tell her she would be arrested). They also held her down while i medicated her.

In the ED, if a non-critical patient threatens staff, they can be escorted out of the facility and transferred to another facility.

What is your facilities policy on threats against staff?

OrganizedChaos, LVN · May 31, 2015

Yikes! I'm glad you're ok though. I've never had anyone attack me & I've worked in corrections. I hope you can get things sorted out between your nurse manager & supervisor between what to do if something like this were to happen again.

Asystole RN · May 31, 2015

If you are threatened with physical harm it is no longer a workplace issue, it is a public safety issue.

If you were at the grocery store and someone was chasing you and threatening you would you call your mother in the hopes of your mother calling the police or would you call them yourself?

Caffeine_IV · May 31, 2015

I'm glad someone intervened. I would be disappointed as well. We have a code silver that we call for these situations and security responds.

The charge nurse doesn't override the nursing supervisor so she still should've come and weighed in. I'm going to presume the pt was reassigned after this.

enuf_already · May 31, 2015

Since I don't have any details of why the patient was there (and don't need any either), I'll play devil's advocate.

Maybe the thought process of the charge nurse was that the patient was de-escalating and having anyone come to address her behavior at that moment would re-escalate her to the point of attempting to harm more people (or her unborn child if she was still pregnant).

People who are escalated are not rational. If she was still pregnant or breast feeding, you can't necessarily go drugging her to chill her out.

I am in no way condoning her behavior or minimizing the incident or your safety. I'm just saying that at that particular moment, it sounds like the priority was to de-escalate the patient for everyone's safety.

Now what should happen is that your supervision needs to discuss the incident with her (with security present) and make it clear that there will be no next time at your facility. Patient should be reminded that charges will be pressed for misconduct or threats against staff members. She should also be given the option to transfer her care to another facility immediately if she chooses.

OP under no circumstance should you be required to care for or be anywhere near this patient. Management should consider giving you the day off, with pay, until they deal with the patient and assure your safety is prioriy.

OP, I'm sorry this happened to you. It must have been very frightening.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · May 31, 2015

I'm so sorry this happend to you!! I'd be livid to be honest, and if the pt is competent would be pressing criminal charges. Assault and terroristic threats are crimes. You have the right to be free of crime, whether at home, at the bank, OR at work. What the sup thinks is irrelevant. You still have the right to be safe, and to the same protection as if this had happened anywhere else.

Definitely don't have further contact with this woman, though. And take good care of yourself today! ((((Hugs))))

amoLucia · May 31, 2015

Other posters have good comments. FWIW, my 3 cents are betting that you still have legal grounds for an assault charge (battery occurs if there's contact, I think). Unless this woman were under the influence of some medication interaction ...

Just let us know how this plays out if there's something more there.

Take care.

SarahMaria, MSN, RN · May 31, 2015

I get threatened and assaulted at work on a daily basis. (I'm a nurse at a forensic psych hospital). It would never occur to me to press charges for anything. I consider it part of the job that I signed up for.

THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN · May 31, 2015

Psych issues or not, assault of a health care worker is a crime. It's not okay no matter what.

NOADLS · May 31, 2015

If I ever gave such crappy direction to those working under me, I'd hope someone has the sense to tell me to screw off and call security / the cops anyways. A lot easier to give nursing care to patients when they're restrained as opposed to running about and trying to take a whack at you. Heck, they might even be removed from your care depending on the situation.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · May 31, 2015

Thanks everyone for your input. Patient was re-assigned. I understand that the CN wanted to de-esculate ( excuse my spelling) the situation, but I still think that later on at some point security should have been spoke with the patient and documented the incident. I'm still very disappointed.