I'm a mature student about to start training as a nurse, and the incidence of violence from patients/families/visitors/chavs has started to bother me lately. I'm most definitely not a violent person, but neither am I a turn the other cheek type of guy, and while I am not advocating hitting people for no reason, the law of the land is such that you are allowed to defend yourself (within reason) if attacked. Yet I have spoken to nurses, male and female, who tell me that if they dared defend themselves if attacked, they would be suspended and probably sacked.
So what is a nurse supposed to do if assaulted? Curl up in a ball and hope their attacker gets bored and doesn't injure them too much (or kill them)? Beg for mercy? Ask them to stop hitting until security turns up? Or are we allowed, as British law says, to fight back - and even hit first - if we genuinely feel in danger?
I really do think it's time health workers took matters into their own hands if they get no support from management.
I think staff are probably not backed up by management because they know we'll quietly take it, or at most will complain internally where it can all be swept under the carpet. If every time it happened nurses made a real noise: wrote to the papers, their MPs, solicitors, anything that would bring attention to the actions of management then something surely would have to happen. I do not deny that some nurses have tried this already, but I'm speaking of all nurses doing it. If MPs and newspapers were flooded with complaints, even anonymous ones, something I believe would happen.
Someone (if they haven't already) should set up a website designed solely for health workers to air their grievances and relate what's really happening with regards to violence. Publicise it to TV and the press as evidence that health workers have had enough of violence and the empty assurances of management. (Jeez, I'm sounding so bolshy here :) )
I do realise that all this is easier said than done, and fear of losing one's job and, for want of a better phrase "being blackballed", is a frightening thought. But still, nobody should have to take what you did just for trying to do your job and its sickening that the Trust seemed to show no desire to help you recover.
Out of interest how are you private - agency nurse? or do you work in a private hospital?
We are supposed to have a zero tolerance to any form of abuse verbal or physical, in my hospital.
There are signs every were saying abuse of any kind will not be tolerated and if a pt is abusive prosecution may follow.... yeah right!!!:angryfire
Have been subjected to several physical attacks while on duty, especially on acute medical wards by elderly Pt's, get little or no back up from managers or trust.
In 1 incident an 88 yr old pt threw a nebuliser machine through the window, held a plastic knife to another Pt's throat when security arrived they found it highly amusing until pt grabbed the security guard the the short and curlys and punched and kicked him. After eventually getting this yr old back to bed turned my back for a second (bad mistake) and she grabbed my hair and smashed my head onto a commode chair, knocking 4 teeth out:o
The trust wouldn't even pay for dental work as I am private said I would have to wait and be treated by the hospital dentist:angryfire
This was the last of many incidents on the medical wards I left just after.
Happy to say had no further physical attacks but still get the odd verbal attack. Aslo have a lovely set of venners:D
but am a private pt at my dentist, NHS wouldn't pay for cosmetic work as they called it after the teeth got knocked out, they offered to treat me with the hospital dentist, but only to have the roots removed:angryfire.
Do any other nurses get frustrated when issues surrounding violence to wards staff in hospitals only address A & E? I have watched many programs on TV about the subject and am annoyed as to why they only believe abuse happens in A & E, do they not realize these Pt's go onto a ward afterwords and unlike my A & E we dont have security on the unit.
Have had many Dr's defend the Pt's who attack staff, either by saying its the meds, infection etc. A couple of weeks ago a HCA was hit across the back of the head by a pt with her handbag, the pt hit the HCA with such force she fell back wards after the attack, and the pt said she would sue the trust:stone . The Dr's in this case discharged the pt immediately, but showed no concern for the HCA, what so ever. Then 2 days later the pt was readmitted to the ward again!!!!:angryfire The thing is this women wasn't confused etc even threatened the same HCA again to hit her again??
Gosh thats terrible, they should so sort your teeth out to the state they were in before ..... thought about taking legal action? or threatening to? One of my colleges had her thumb broken by an elderly 'infirm!!!' patient.
Yes Drs are very dismissive of violent/disruptive patients. VERY annoying. I have called security on a few occations to little old ladies cursing, threatening violence and swinging their zimmer frames at staff!!! I work in a large teaching hospital and we usually have 2 security guards to cover it all and A and E. Had to wait an hour once for them to come and deal with a drunk drug addict wanting his bed back ofter selfdischarging.
I have always found security great - once they get there!! - they don't mess about. With management it depends whos on duty to how much support you get.
The media are too busy writting about bad nursing examples and dirty hospitals ... very demoralising when you are doing your best ..... I am a great believer in the NHS but management have a lot to answer for!!! :angryfire :angryfire
Hi
work in an NHS hospital!!!
but am a private pt at my dentist, NHS wouldn't pay for cosmetic work as they called it after the teeth got knocked out, they offered to treat me with the hospital dentist, but only to have the roots removed:angryfire.
Do any other nurses get frustrated when issues surrounding violence to wards staff in hospitals only address A & E? I have watched many programs on TV about the subject and am annoyed as to why they only believe abuse happens in A & E, do they not realize these Pt's go onto a ward afterwords and unlike my A & E we dont have security on the unit.
Have had many Dr's defend the Pt's who attack staff, either by saying its the meds, infection etc. A couple of weeks ago a HCA was hit across the back of the head by a pt with her handbag, the pt hit the HCA with such force she fell back wards after the attack, and the pt said she would sue the trust:stone . The Dr's in this case discharged the pt immediately, but showed no concern for the HCA, what so ever. Then 2 days later the pt was readmitted to the ward again!!!!:angryfire The thing is this women wasn't confused etc even threatened the same HCA again to hit her again??
I am wondering if any nurses have filed criminal assault charges where warranted? Nurses are citizens, with rights, I guess......I understand that there would be little if any backup from hospital officials and quite a backlash.
Last month we had both a nurse and a doctor injured by a psych pt in the ED where I'm assigned. The doc is back at work but the nurse is out for at least the summer. There were complaints filed by both of the injured staff (and the 2 police officers who were also trying to restrain the patient). In this case, and because of a weird State Law, the pt could only be charged with Disorderly Conduct - a misdemeanor. The deal in Wisconsin is that if the pt punches or kicks you in the ER then it's a felony. If he deliberately runs into you while, say, going for the door and breaks a bone or two, then it's just a misdemeanor.
The really strange thing is that if the same pt were to hit or kick a nurse on the floor in Med Surg or L&D then it would only be a misdemeanor...Something about Assaulting an Emergency Worker while they are performing their duties or some such. In that case the floor nurses don't qualify. SAD!!!
Learn and know the laws that apply to your situation and location. That's the best advice I can give.
Specializes in renal,peritoneal dialysis, medicine.
i was taught various things in breakaway training which teavhes you to use controlled force to get you out of a situation where a patient has hold of you etc, at the traing i was told that if you hit someone in self defence you probably would be disciplined if a complaint was made but it probably wouldnt come to anything
i have been punched in the mount by a patient, i have to be honest, i felt like punching him back believe me
i have just finished a nightshift and funnily enough a patient called me an effing fat b!tch because i put him back to bed, he has a history of falling and can be nasty
if a patient is abusive i always document it incase i end up in a situation which forces me to use self defence, after all you neve rknow
Temujin
4 Posts
So sorry to hear your story BB :angryfire
I really do think it's time health workers took matters into their own hands if they get no support from management.
I think staff are probably not backed up by management because they know we'll quietly take it, or at most will complain internally where it can all be swept under the carpet. If every time it happened nurses made a real noise: wrote to the papers, their MPs, solicitors, anything that would bring attention to the actions of management then something surely would have to happen. I do not deny that some nurses have tried this already, but I'm speaking of all nurses doing it. If MPs and newspapers were flooded with complaints, even anonymous ones, something I believe would happen.
Someone (if they haven't already) should set up a website designed solely for health workers to air their grievances and relate what's really happening with regards to violence. Publicise it to TV and the press as evidence that health workers have had enough of violence and the empty assurances of management. (Jeez, I'm sounding so bolshy here :) )
I do realise that all this is easier said than done, and fear of losing one's job and, for want of a better phrase "being blackballed", is a frightening thought. But still, nobody should have to take what you did just for trying to do your job and its sickening that the Trust seemed to show no desire to help you recover.