Violence in the ER

[TLS1]

Question: how do you feel about pressing charges against a patient that hits you?

Plenty of experience with mentally ill PTs and those frequent flyers with ETOH abuse ... The drug seeking patients that get angry when they are cleared and don't get what they want. That seems part of the ER to me ..

However here is the situation. Pt arrives via EMS screaming and yelling. She gets off the stretcher and tries to bolt.. Assist the pt in a room start a IV then she tries to swing at me and misses then I explain ..." Hey you made some choices and its not going well I'm your nurse and I'm going to try and make this go as smooth as possible ... However you can't hit me or the other nurses .. Labeling blood other nurse leaves to finish triage .. Pt comes to the end of the bed I turn and say "no you can't get up you will fall" boom slapped in the face .., PT has blood alcohol level above 400 driver in MVA ..

Question: would you press charges? If not why? If yes why? I did press charges.. Close to a 14 hour shift. Hitting the hay !! Curious to see how other ER nurses view this!

7 BA52, 2 Marchman Acts today .. Tomorrow will better!!!!!!!

[SillyStudent, ASN, RN]

If the patient is not actively hallucinating or demented, I call the cops. ESPECIALLY if they are drunk.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

If the patient is not actively hallucinating or demented, I call the cops. ESPECIALLY if they are drunk.

Mostly, because drunkenness is VOLUNTARY!!

[WAheartnurse]

If the patient is not actively hallucinating or demented, I call the cops. ESPECIALLY if they are drunk.

Yes, this is where I make an exception. An elderly (but still VERY strong man) thought we were attacking him and wanted us to call the FBI etc. He was angry and frightened out of his wits. We were doing an excellent de-escalation but he was just too scared. He swung and hit one of us but we didn't call or try to press charges. He had a UTI or something. Not drunk/drugged.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Before calling the police...I'd consider you facility...many are not pleased with the police coming to the facility. I have seen nurse lose thier jobs over this...is it right ? no.....but it happens just the same.

Zero tolerance for violence against healthcare workers.

ZERO.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I agree with zero tolerance against them but until we get laws passed AND enforce them...little will change and hospitals can retaliate against nurses who do file charges.

Did you read the story earlier in my post about my friend Charlene Richardson? She is public about her experience and is a passionate speaker against workplace violence

Workplace Violence

In her own words: How ER assault has changed RN Charlene Richardson's life, work

04.15.2005

From the Massachusetts Nurse Newsletter

April 2005 Edition

By Charlene Richardson, RN

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[TD]RN Charlene Richardson at an MNA workshop on violence held last October listens to keynote speaker District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.[/TD]

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Since the story of my March 2003 indecent assault was published in The Salem News, I have been overwhelmed by the public response and the questions I have been asked in regards to this incident. Most people are quick to say they are impressed with the article, yet wondered after reading it how this incident has impacted me and affected my life both personally and professionally.

Since then, I have taken extensive time to think about how to even begin to answer these complex and difficult questions. Most times I find myself unable to find the words to describe the turmoil this incident has caused in my life and the impact it has had on me. In searching for the right words, I have been told by my closest friends and support systems to "search my soul" and the words will follow. While trying to follow this advice I came to the realization that an incident of this magnitude is more traumatizing than any words could ever express. I have also come to the realization that such an experience can rob you of your soul.............

No support or counseling

I would love to say my employer was one who took this issue seriously and the necessary steps to provide me with the professional support and compassionate care that victims of such trauma deserve, but my employer didn't do that. Instead, just the opposite occurred. I was never provided support or counseling, and no one ever even said "we're sorry this happened to you." When I finally decided to share my story through activities sponsored by the MNA and in the media, I was made to feel intimidated by my employer and asked to sign a document pledging me to remain silent. I was made to feel as if I had done something wrong and that I was making things worse by trying to protect myself and other nurses in my department.

[IrishErin]

Before calling the police...I'd consider you facility...many are not pleased with the police coming to the facility. I have seen nurse lose thier jobs over this...is it right ? no.....but it happens just the same.

I'm lucky as our managers and risk management team are very supportive and even encourage us to file a police report and lay charges if we are assaulted by a patient. I was pretty badly hurt last year by a patient who was very high on a mixture of things, and I wasn't sure if I would go ahead with laying charges because I was afraid it would ruffle some feathers. My manager helped me through the whole process it was great!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Then we had that jerk Kennedy who kicked and shoved nurses in the OB unit because those "horrible" nurse refused to allow him to take hies new born son out for fresh air in the middle of January...New York has assaulting a nurse a felony. Where were those charges? He was charged with negligent endangerment of a child and harassment when it is clear he kicked one nurse tho the ground! Mow he is suing the hospital.

It makes me sick

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I'm lucky as our managers and risk management team are very supportive and even encourage us to file a police report and lay charges if we are assaulted by a patient. I was pretty badly hurt last year by a patient who was very high on a mixture of things, and I wasn't sure if I would go ahead with laying charges because I was afraid it would ruffle some feathers. My manager helped me through the whole process it was great!

You are lucky to work in a facility that supports it's staff.

[cardiacfreak, ADN]

We have a city police officer that stays posted in our ER. We once had a patient that was detoxing off of alcohol, it was his 2nd night there and the prior shift didn't give the scheduled doses of Ativan because "the patient was not showing s/s of tremors" That night the patient ended up grabbing me by my throat and breaking my thumb. The police officer came up to the floor and filed a report. I didn't follow through with pressing charges because I felt that we didn't treat the patient appropriately, the patient obviously was not in a right frame of mind, he was seeing trees growing out of the ceiling and thought that people were climbing through the windows.

I always always, ALWAYS give the scheduled dose of Ativan according to our alcohol detox orders.

I believe charges should be pressed each and every time (though recognizing that the DA may not choose to prosecute a case, regardless of whether the victim chooses to press charges).

Here's why: Pressing charges puts the issue out in the open where it is included in crime data and helps justify criminal justice funding. It also lends credence to movements by nursing groups to criminalize behavior where it hasn't already been. It helps force hospitals to recognize that they have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace for their employees. Also, it tags a person as having a history of violence, can get them excluded from legally purchasing firearms, and lead to increased penalties if it proves habitual.

Regardless of *why* someone was violent, the violence cannot be tolerated nor excused.

[shoegalRN, RN]

Hell yes!

I have pressed charges against an ETOH'er who was found down at the bus stop by police and then brought to our facility to "sober up". We parked this guy up on a cart in the triage hallway to sleep it off. I just come on shift and he is showing his member to the other patients waiting in the triage area to be triaged. I told him several times his actions were inappropriate and he called me every name in the book. Then he attempted to get up off the cart, he had urinated on himself and stated "I'm leaving" as he is stumbling about to fall. I grabbed his shoulder to stop him from falling and he then turned around and punched me twice in the arm and told me he was leaving anyway. Security was called and he was put in 4 point restraints after attempting to hit a security guard. I pressed charges and the patient showed up in court. He was charged with a Class C felony of assault on a healthcare provider and given 6 months probation. He had to spend money on an attorney to avoid jail time and I'm satisfied that he will forever have this charge on his criminal record. In court, he couldnt even look me in the face. He didnt deny what he did, he pleaded guilty because I charted my butt off on his chart and I had witnesses (the security guard as well as my other co-workers).

The good thing is I have never seen him again in my ER since that incident.