Verbally, mentally & emotionally abused by patient where do I turn.

Nurses Relations

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The abuse to not only myself but my other co workers and residents has been going on since Oct last year. It's like being in a abusive relationship you can't get out of. It is to the point he beings ppl to tears and panic attacks. 4 weeks ago he ran his electric w/c into me I am now doing PT for. My employer was supposed to issue a 30 notice several times and has yet to do it, instead they moved me to a different unit, cut my hours "due to census" and have had to make changes to activities d/t his bullying patients in there, he degrades, belittles, and with comments regarding some having big azz etc I am sure sexual harrassemt might fall in there. We feel helpless and don't know where to turn, can anyone please give advice or point me in the right direction on how to proceed. Our CNA's are union and are considering seeing if union will get involved but not sure that they can. We feel our employer has failed to protect us and we should have some sort of rights, dont we??

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Do you work in LTC? Is this resident mentally ill or just mean? I hope you filled out an incident report and each person who encounters any unusual incidents also fills out a report. A paper trail may be needed before any action will be taken.

Have you suggested a psych eval to his physician to make sure nothing is wrong? I'd definitely be documenting every single occurrence of inappropriate behavior, facts only.

What if you told administration you were pressing charges?

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

First of all, if your screen name is your real name, please change it now. It is very easy for anyone to identify you since you have also listed your location.

The patient injured you and if it was deliberate, you could press charges. If you have an open workers compensation claim, your employer may be trying to minimize his behavior so that you can not sue for damages. What a mess.

No is supposed to give legal advice here, but I do feel that in the interest of protecting your vulnerable patients, a call to your state ombudsman is in order.

Please consult a workers compensation attorney.

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I changed my sign in name :) ty for that advice. The patient is 100% A&O with no mental issues.

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It is ltc, I tried to file charges ava the d.a. turned me away but said I might have a civil suit against work. But declined to tell me what I could do next. My work knows this. They are aware of everything he does, yet the administration bends over backwards for him and takes lil action and their words do nothing to changea terrible situation

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I agree with contacting state ombudsman about safety of other residents. Also, if he is a risk to other residents and the facility is not taking steps to keep them safe (by dealing with him), you could make the state licensing agency aware of that situation.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
It is ltc, I tried to file charges ava the d.a. turned me away but said I might have a civil suit against work. But declined to tell me what I could do next. My work knows this. They are aware of everything he does, yet the administration bends over backwards for him and takes lil action and their words do nothing to changea terrible situation

Hmmm...he's abusive, does things that hurt staff physically as well as mentally, the CNAs are threatening to go to the union, and admin bends over backwards for him. Is he private pay with a LOT of money left? Private pays can be anywhere from $5000 to $7000 per month, as compared to cents on the dollar for Medicaid NH benefits.

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Specializes in hospice.

Go to the media. Tell them to keep you anonymous, fuzz your face and distort your voice.

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No he isn't private pay, has no private ins, DON says even if they give him a 30 day notice he had to want to go to a new place or they can't force him :( she says he has been to do many places and done the same thing

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Obviously, this patient DOES in fact have mental issues. The primary MD needs to address. I would social work consult him. Anger management may also be a thought. He may need a stay in geriatric psych to r/o any issues.

I also would think perhaps he is cognitively impaired? Organic brain issues? A complication of a physical issue? Chronic unresolved pain?

Patient in recovery for ETOH or drug abuse?

Some sort of boundaries need to be set for this patient. And the only thing that has not been done is that the police are not called to arrest him each and every time he assaults staff. Elder services for a patient in danger to himself and/or others can also be filed, and I would. The omsbudsman also needs to be in the loop.

Time for a firm discussion with the primary MD. He either has an issue that no one is aware of, or he is doing this because he can. If he has family/friends now is the time to employ their help as well. If nothing else, they can help establish a baseline for when this all became an issue. And a direct plan of care.

And perhaps the patient just wants to "go home". Does he have a home to go to? Is there an alternate place that he can go and be independent? If he is A&O he can participate in PT to be able to transfer himself.

And I really hate to say this, but sometimes angry, moody, nasty patients react better with people who are of their same sex. If a "women" tries to tell them what to do, all heck breaks loose. But if a man does, different story. Same with some women. I have had nasty, angry with the world, nothing is right lashing out women who when cared for by a male nurse become all peaches and cream. All the above had to do with some dementia issues. That seemingly, they can "pull it together" briefly for periods of time, but otherwise, are demented.

Best wishes, and remember as hard as it is--DO NOT personalize this. It is not your personal care, it is HIS issue, and do NOT make it yours. The crying, the panic attacks--do NOT feed into his perversion. If he wants to tantrum, leave the room, close the door, and you shall return when he is ready to act like an adult. Period. He wants to throw his butt on the floor screaming--his issue. He can not use an electric wheelchair correctly, he gets a manual one. Period, end of story.

I would also look into some inservices from perhaps the local geri psych nurses. They are such a wealth of knowledge on how to handle behavior. I would also invite some of the CNA's that work in geri psych as well. They can also be such a wealth of knowledge on how to handle difficult behaviors.

Again, tears and panic attacks only strengthen his resolve. It is his issue. You all need to create a multi-disciplinary plan on how to deal with it.

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This person is A&O, he doesn't care if your male or female. My ADON is male he had even broke him, he walks in his room each day for tx and does so with head down and stressed at the thought of going in. The patent is a big guy who from my understanding has been mean and bullying to others always including family. He did have a apartment but decided to give it up. He didn't do pt, heck even tells dr what he will and won't do. He refused psych says he isn't the one with a problem we need to do what we are told. Because he is no that to himself and he twist things so terribly that even the police did nothing. I like many loved coming to work each day, love my pts etc now many of us dread it for fear this won't change. If we quit he wins :( I am going to start making some calls to some of the places talked about on here. I am also going to talk to my boss again.

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Thank you, I appreciate you help

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