Threatened by patient

[BSNbeauty]

I work in OB and tonight I was threatened by a patient. She actually was chasing me 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.

[Red Kryptonite]

Just disgusting. I can't think of another job that requires people to be crime victims but take no recourse. It's like nurses have battered women's syndrome, because they just keep taking it regardless how toxic it is. Jeez.

[Jules A, MSN]

Just disgusting. I can't think of another job that requires people to be crime victims but take no recourse. It's like nurses have battered women's syndrome, because they just keep taking it regardless how toxic it is. Jeez.

With regard to working conditions and wages also. Because nursing is a "calling".

[Libby1987]

I know these examples have been unprovoked and of course violence shouldn't be tolerated but this thread reminded me of something recently said by a coworker.."they don't pay me enough to piss people off."

That has stuck with me after recently trying too hard to do what I thought was the best for the sake of everyone involved but ended up looking like the bad guy.

[Jules A, MSN]

I know these examples have been unprovoked and of course violence shouldn't be tolerated but this thread reminded me of something recently said by a coworker.."they don't pay me enough to piss people off."

That has stuck with me after recently trying too hard to do what I thought was the best for the sake of everyone involved but ended up looking like the bad guy.

OMG your coworker is brilliant and I will take this advice to heart. Thank you for sharing!!

[Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM]

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.

The last I checked the nursing supervisor was an extension of administration and what they said trumped what the charge nurse wanted. At least that is the way it is at my facility.

I would write a detailed letter to your manager, notifying them of the incident, and if that was ignored I would notify risk management.

The charge nurse handled the situation poorly. That woman was out of control and being in the hospital, regardless of the reason, is no excuse.

[Thessaly36]

Yet again I am thrilled I work in California. Our laws are very specific about nursing and they tend to veer toward the nurses side of the argument.

[Dogen]

I don't understand this "don't re-escalate the patient" thing. In psych, when we do a "show of concern," and three security guards and two or three nurses walk into the room it usually alters any desire in a patient to become physical if they're in touch with reality. We say colloquially that "they can count." The important part, though, is what happens after we've convinced then getting physical isn't the answer. That conversation often starts by showing them aggression won't get the result they desire, and then offering them constructive means of working together.

I've never worked with gang members, so YMMV, but I do this four or five times a month in a 43-bed inpatient psych facility. Maybe OB patients aren't in touch with reality? :)

[bbyRN, BSN, RN]

Security could have been on the floor but not in the patient's face so that she would not be "re-escalated." With security on the floor, whether in view of the patient or not, there would have been increased safety and reduced stress for the staff.

[barbakimball]

I've been threatened, kicked, shoved and bitten, to list a few, but it was all part of working nights in the ER. The local cops were a phone call away on the red line and were always there in a minute if needed!

[pugmom79]

Workplace violence is unacceptable. Period.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

This is all so scary that is happens. I have never once been harassed & I've worked in corrections so you think it would.

[Jules A, MSN]

This is all so scary that is happens. I have never once been harassed & I've worked in corrections so you think it would.

You are probably safer than someone working in the public

sector. You have guards and the population is mostly institutionalized so they know the routine. :)