Verbal assault by a pt.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am still reeling over a verbal attack by a geriatric pt last week. Without getting into details, it was probably the worst I've been treated in years. None of it was warranted. His anger was not my fault, I was simply the object available when he blew his stack. I honestly tried to rationalize his behavior, he's scared, he's worried, the bills are piling up, case management talked to him, ........... The one excuse I couldn't give him was confusion. Completely alert person. I tried to defuse the situation, but opening my mouth to speak simply enraged him further. He was old and very sick. That didn't make his attack any less violent or any less painful. What is allowed where you work? How far can you go when a pt is completely out of control, and what they say is every bit as violent as a fist?

I think what capecod was trying to say it that you do have to have a thick skin. Have I been yelled at before...yes. Did it bother me....yes, for a few minutes. Will I be yelled at again....yes. Will I provide care any differently....nope. Sticks and stones might have been flippant, but when you think about it...you are at home typing on your computer and that person is probably still in the hospital.

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Specializes in ICU./CCU/SICU.

The CommuterRN said-"A belligerent person will be escorted out of the bank by security if he starts verbally abusing the tellers. A person who does not behave himself on a major airline will be restrained by the air marshall. A customer who starts throwing plates at the waiter inside the restaurant will likely leave the place in handcuffs. A student who threatens and curses at the college professor might be expelled from school.

However, people feel that they can lash out at the nurse with absolutely no fear of being kept in line. It's a sad phenomenon"

People feel they can lash out at the nurse because there is NO keeping them in line, they're rewarded for bad behavior with free parking passes, meal tickets, etc. Remember Psych 101-Negative reinforcement? Ring a bell anyone? I don't buy my 3-year old niece a toy when she throws a temper tantrum for the same reason......Makes ya wonder.......

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Actually, no one called YOU a name, as any educated adult who read the post you quoted can clearly see.

Clearly she said what I said was idiocy thereby calling me an idiot.

Let's not let this change the focus of the original post. I don't let what residents say bother me...apparently I am in the minority. I will continue to brush off what others say while setting limits and explaining to the patients I deal with that derogatory language, screaming, cursing, and treating me or my staff like servants will not be tolerated.

And for sure I'd love to have negative outcomes and true behavior mod, but in long term care, we are not allowed to.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.
I think what capecod was trying to say it that you do have to have a thick skin. Have I been yelled at before...yes. Did it bother me....yes, for a few minutes. Will I be yelled at again....yes. Will I provide care any differently....nope. Sticks and stones might have been flippant, but when you think about it...you are at home typing on your computer and that person is probably still in the hospital.

As a matter of fact he is.:lol2:

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I sincerely regret any insult I may have delivered to anyone. I appreciate being able to post here and be supported by those who know exactly what a day at work is like.

Thanks to you all.

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Clearly she said what I said was idiocy thereby calling me an idiot.

Let's not let this change the focus of the original post. I don't let what residents say bother me...apparently I am in the minority. I will continue to brush off what others say while setting limits and explaining to the patients I deal with that derogatory language, screaming, cursing, and treating me or my staff like servants will not be tolerated.

And for sure I'd love to have negative outcomes and true behavior mod, but in long term care, we are not allowed to.

I'm sorry you're having trouble understanding the difference between attacking an idea and a person. I'd thought I'd make the correction, since you were accusing her of committing an infraction. :)

Saying your comment was idiotic is not the same as saying you are an idiot, but since you're not bothered by it, oh well.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I don't need you or anyone else to explain things to me. But thanks so much for thinking you were.

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I don't need you or anyone else to explain things to me. But thanks so much for thinking you were.

No problem. No need to get sarcastic. I hate to see you get bothered.

(That last sentence you wrote is nonsensical though. Why are you thanking me for thinking that I was helping? It's idiotic.)

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Specializes in PACU, OR.
No problem. No need to get sarcastic. I hate to see you get bothered.

(That last sentence you wrote is nonsensical though. Why are you thanking me for thinking that I was helping? It's idiotic.)

Not as silly as thinking you can see her....:D

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
:yawn::cool:
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i think it's easier for people to "open up" to those they feel less threatened by - whether what they are "opening up" about is good or bad. if a patient is angry with the doctor, they'll take it out on the nurse. if they're angry with the nurse, they'll take it out on the CNA. i recently went through a CNA course and i swear almost every patient's room i went into had complaints about their meals like "i've told them a thousand times i'm not supposed to have salt!" or "i told them they can just keep this pudding. i don't know WHY they keep bringing it!" i'd never seen these people in my life and you would've thought i was the one they'd reported this information to 1,000 times before. of course when i brought these things to the attention of their "real CNA" she'd walk in the room, go through a spill about why things were the way they were, and they'd immediately shut down. it's hard not to take things personally when you're the person being lashed out at over minor things (or major things) and it's not your fault but that seems to unfortunately be "part of the job."

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Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.
i think it's easier for people to "open up" to those they feel less threatened by - whether what they are "opening up" about is good or bad. if a patient is angry with the doctor, they'll take it out on the nurse. if they're angry with the nurse, they'll take it out on the CNA. i recently went through a CNA course and i swear almost every patient's room i went into had complaints about their meals like "i've told them a thousand times i'm not supposed to have salt!" or "i told them they can just keep this pudding. i don't know WHY they keep bringing it!" i'd never seen these people in my life and you would've thought i was the one they'd reported this information to 1,000 times before. of course when i brought these things to the attention of their "real CNA" she'd walk in the room, go through a spill about why things were the way they were, and they'd immediately shut down. it's hard not to take things personally when you're the person being lashed out at over minor things (or major things) and it's not your fault but that seems to unfortunately be "part of the job."

The reason why they take it out on the nurse and CNA ..... and not the doctor, or the pharmacist, or the PT

Is that they respect the nurse and CNA less.

Whilst we shouldn't take it personally .... it's about time this lack of respect got 'personal'

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