What’s one of America’s most dangerous jobs? It’s not what you think

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Specializes in ICU.
When it comes to attacks, more than 75 percent of the nurses questioned in a recent survey said they had been abused — physically and verbally, by patients, those trying to get to patients or family members — on the job.

Our society honors and celebrates the sacrifices of officers and warriors, but nurses are still fighting for protection, standards and recognition.

Not surprising, in a profession that's 93 percent female.

What's one of America's most dangerous jobs? It's not what you think. - The Washington Post

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I am surprised there are no other comments on this story yet. Especially coming so soon after the story of the Utah nurse who was assaulted for protecting her patient from an illegal blood draw. I found this article horrifying and depressing. Are nurses so used to abuse that it seems almost "normal" to us?

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
I am surprised there are no other comments on this story yet. Especially coming so soon after the story of the Utah nurse who was assaulted for protecting her patient from an illegal blood draw. I found this article horrifying and depressing. Are nurses so used to abuse that it seems almost "normal" to us?
Last month there was a thread on the topic:

There's an epidemic of violence towards nurses, and a cultural acceptance of abusive behavior. Why is violence towards nurses so pervasive?

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/violence-in-nursing-1112970.html

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I personally and professionally think that one of the problems why nurses can't fight back is because the "employers" or the CEOS or the BOARDS do not support their employees if or when a patient started acting-out aggressively. Instead of backing up hospital employees, it seems like they're protecting the patients just to keep their business!

Big hospitals are now wanting to treat our patients as if they are staying at a 5 star hotel. It's sickening.

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I'm no ones punching bag and am not afraid to tell people this when they threaten me. Yes I've been reported and I've told administration the same thing, that I have the right to defend myself like everyone else and when that day comes they can choose to keep or fire me....I haven't been fired yet.

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I'm part of the percentage that has been attacked by a patient on more than on occasion, both physically and verbally. However, on those occasions it was almost always a patient who had a history of chronic dementia and/or psych diagnosis. I can hardly blame the patient in instances like that. The other times when it wasn't a patient with those types of problems, my employer did, in fact, back me up when I have set boundaries and limits with the patient.

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The abuse from patients is very real and I think part of the problem is that so many health care companies put so much emphasis on customer satisfaction and different scores and ratings that they consistantly allow patients to act and treat others any way they please to strive for a good rating....as an RN, i get it but the scores shouldn't ever take priority over staff safety and respect.

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The following is my opinion;

Sorry, i ain't buying it

Stressful (yes)

A top 10 dangerous field? (no way)

I can name several jobs are are dangerous

  1. -OTR Truck Driving
  2. -Lines man (power)
  3. -Oil Rig Worker
  4. -New Construction (works with power tools)
  5. -High Rise Construction (works on tall buildings)
  6. -Any type of Heavy Equipment operator
  7. -Electric work (trades people that work with "live electrical" lines)
  8. -Night work Police officer in the ghetto
  9. -Mining work (can you imagine being 1-200 ft below the surface of the earth)

Nurses? (sure, there a psychotic people to tend to), but you usually know in advance who you're dealing with.

Verbal abuse (seriously?) I know hair-dressers that put up verbal abuse (especially when they are working in a Senior Center). Dr's., get sued all the time...(no fault of theirs)---that's "legal abuse."

Erosion of Respect? (Lets get real...Teachers in Class-rooms are being insulted every day,---even harassed by Minor Kids). Stones and projectiles are being hurled at Police officers. Judges tuck pistols under their robes to protect themselves.

IN CASE you haven't read the news lately (the world has gone mad). There is no perfect "JOB"---that's why you get paid greater than average.

If you get injured on the job, you should have a disability policy that protects you (one from your employer, and a private one as well).

This nurse who got arrested, should have realized she over-stepped her boundaries.

my 2 cents

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I'm retired now but several years ago I worked nites in a tele unit. A pt called and when I went into his room he lunged at me and stabbed me with a switchblade. My 1st instinct was to haul off and deck him. I punched him in the nose and he went down. I sat ok n him and called for help. Security came, took the knife, and restrained him. When his wife came she threatened to sue me for assault. Called the police and filed assault/battery charges. Wife admitted she brought the blade because he wanted it.

Luckily I wasn't severely injured. My employer never mentioned the incident either.

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You are obviously not a nurse! You are a male who if was attacked by another male could protect themselves. Most female nurses don't have that luxury of being able to protect themselves from physical or sexual abuse and they definitely don't have anyone to protect them. I live in a state that had no mandated nurse to patient ratio, my facility at max capacity holds 50+ resident. Only when the census is 48 or greater will they staff two nurses at night. So on any given night it could be me with two female cna's and 47 residents. If one of those residents were to physically or sexually assault one of us and the others were on the other side of the building what could we do to protect ourselves? Yes nursing has become a very dangerous job, and we are expected to put up with assaults and keep our mouths shut if we want to keep our positions.

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You are obviously not a nurse! You are a male who if was attacked by another male could protect themselves. Most female nurses don't have that luxury of being able to protect themselves from physical or sexual abuse and they definitely don't have anyone to protect them. I live in a state that had no mandated nurse to patient ratio, my facility at max capacity holds 50+ resident. Only when the census is 48 or greater will they staff two nurses at night. So on any given night it could be me with two female cna's and 47 residents. If one of those residents were to physically or sexually assault one of us and the others were on the other side of the building what could we do to protect ourselves? Yes nursing has become a very dangerous job, and we are expected to put up with assaults and keep our mouths shut if we want to keep our positions.

Thank you for correcting me....Perhaps you are right. I can certainly see this when you are working in a PSYCH Ward with disturbed people. After researching this more, i see there are other issues related to the practice, THAT would make it dangerous to your health (not just physical violence).

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

According to actual evidence of death and injury on the job - Nursing doesn't even make the top 20

Charted: The 2

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