Verbal Abuse and Nursing

caliotter3 · Sep 21, 2009

Often. Mostly from residents with impaired cognition, but also from co-workers and supervisors. Once a supervisor was verbally abusive toward me when she was threatening me that I could be reported to the Board for "verbal abuse". I had witnessed and reported physical abuse by another nurse toward a resident. The supervisors were letting me know that I would be the one to suffer the consequences and not the guilty party. Happens more often than we care to acknowledge.

kappykatlpn · Sep 21, 2009

I have worked in LTC care for about 15 years (the last 8 as an LPN) and I don't think i could count all the times have been verbally abused! Mostly by Alzheimer residents

MedSurgeMess · Sep 21, 2009

I work in med-surg and aside from the occasional alzheimers/dementia patient, I have had a few episodes from visitors that turned my blood cold.

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2009

They're tried, but they never survive the beatdown I give them....hehehehehehehehehe....

siringe · Sep 21, 2009

I have experienced verbal abuse for the past 2 week from patients. I work numerous jobs, but with my short stay job, a suicidal patient who also happened to be a veteran was very verbally abusive, calling staff every name in the book except for sir or mam. My most recent experience was with another suicidal OD patient who yelled all night and then when you came in the room he made derogatory comments toward me and then proceeded to yell the word c--t(another name for a female anatomy part) for two hours! By the way, I am just in orientation a this job...considering a change in position already! He knew what he was doing because he apologized numerous times, he was just yelling to get attention and to get the pain drugs he wanted!

RNHuskyFan · Sep 21, 2009

You did the right thing by reporting witnessed abuse. A nurse could be culpuble if she/he witnesses abuse and neglects to report the incident to the proper person(s). If you are being harrassed by a supervisor or co-worker for doing the ethical thing you have a case for workplace harrassment covered under the sexual harrassment law. I would take this furthur if you feel you are a victim of a hostile workplace environment. Report this to your Director of Nursing and Human Resources. Your supervisor/co-workers are breaking the law. Just my opinion.

RNHuskyFan · Sep 21, 2009

I have experienced verbal abuse for the past 2 week from patients. I work numerous jobs, but with my short stay job, a suicidal patient who also happened to be a veteran was very verbally abusive, calling staff every name in the book except for sir or mam. My most recent experience was with another suicidal OD patient who yelled all night and then when you came in the room he made derogatory comments toward me and then proceeded to yell the word c--t(another name for a female anatomy part) for two hours! By the way, I am just in orientation a this job...considering a change in position already! He knew what he was doing because he apologized numerous times, he was just yelling to get attention and to get the pain drugs he wanted!

As difficult as it is to be yelled at or verbally abused by a patient, try not to take it personally, especially if the patient has dementia or psych issues. The patient is probrably more tormented than we are. Remember the nurse can eventually go home but these patients have to live with their diagnosis forever. Very difficult situation for everyone.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Sep 21, 2009

My first day of clinicals I was on in the Secured floor of the LTC and a gentlemen accused me of taking money from his billfold, the CNA told me what to say and so I told him I took the money to pay for the bill for lunch (it was during lunch time) and he smiled and thanked me and the rest of the table he was at thanked me also for paying the tab

So far I haven't witnessed any verbal abuse but I have only been two 2 full clinical days. I see a lot of patients in the LTC home get talked down to though and it is sort of bothersome.

siringe · Sep 21, 2009

As difficult as it is to be yelled at or verbally abused by a patient, try not to take it personally, especially if the patient has dementia or psych issues. The patient is probrably more tormented than we are. Remember the nurse can eventually go home but these patients have to live with their diagnosis forever. Very difficult situation for everyone.

I try no to take i personally, yet when you are inches away from being hit in the head with a wooden cane, had your chest grabbed, backside swatted, and been punched in the side literally:scrying:...all by the same patient given in my previous example, you can only take so much without taking it personal...I addressed the verbal, yet there is the physical and soooo much more to add to he story. The issues with the abusive patients were handled and these patient's aren't the norm where I work, yet psych nor dementia are reasons in my opinion to excuse their behavior. One of my former coworkers was injured by a patient and she can no longer work as a nurse because of her injuries...I know is is a verbal abuse thread, yet the issue goes hand in hand sometimes. Thanks for the advice though RNHuskyFan

RNHuskyFan · Sep 21, 2009

I try no to take i personally, yet when you are inches away from being hit in the head with a wooden cane, had your chest grabbed, backside swatted, and been punched in the side literally:scrying:...all by the same patient given in my previous example, you can only take so much without taking it personal...I addressed the verbal, yet there is the physical and soooo much more to add to he story. The issues with the abusive patients were handled and these patient's aren't the norm where I work, yet psych nor dementia are reasons in my opinion to excuse their behavior. One of my former coworkers was injured by a patient and she can no longer work as a nurse because of her injuries...I know is is a verbal abuse thread, yet the issue goes hand in hand sometimes. Thanks for the advice though RNHuskyFan

Yes, I can hear your frustrations. It is never easy. You do have the right, and should, protect yourself from physical harm. I tell the nurses and cnas at my facility that if a patient's behaviors are escalating, never approach them or get too close if you feel physically threatened. Sometimes reapproaching at a later time is a better option. Because dementia and/or psych patients may not necessarily know what they are doing, may "excuse" the behavior, but nurses need to find a creative but effective way to intervene where harm is minimized to both staff and patients. In my opinion, dementia and psych patients with severe behavioral disorders are one of the most difficult to care for.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 22, 2009

It happened to me yesterday...but the patient was hallucinating and thought I was someone else, so I didn't take it personally. I did set limits on her behavior though, and got her some PRN Haldol to help her regain her control.