Why do people abuse nurses?

[abbaking]

Why do patients and families either mentally or physically abuse nursing staff? I just can not fathom why they think its justifiable to terrorize nurses and worship doctors. Over the course of my 7 years in healthcare I have been kicked, punched, slapped, bitten, pinched, pee'd on, spat upon, and called every possible curse word in existance. But I have yet to see anything CLOSE to these kind of assaults inflicted on the MD's or even other staff like PT, RCP, case management, or even the housekeepers!

[ERnurse4hire]

I am 41 yrs old, so that kinda tells you how long I have been practicing Nursing, and I have watched so much change within the medical field over the years....

I remember when we gave massages, encouraged music, art, and whatever therapy available, fed, hydrated and if needed sat and just talked with the pt. before giving pain medication. We vomitted for at least 2 days before seeking medical attention, and usually it was your PCP. The ER's were just that used for emergencies.

NOW, well the trend of our society has swung to the other relm of the pendulum (?) Society knows that they do not have to hurt...there is pain medication..... god forbid you should sniffle... gotta run to the ER I am sick and need an antibiotic, I have a temperature.... gotta go gotta go now I might be dying...do you think 95% ever think to take Tyl or Motrin, or even both to see if it helps before running into an emergency room and locking up the rooms with common sense remedies.

I actually had a pt common into triage a few weeks back, and as good as they come stated.." I am dying" ... so very melodramtic.. I looked at her an replied "how are you dying"...I am so sick...OMG I am thnking "tell me what the hell is actually going on"... needless to say the end result was, "I have been vomiting" I ask her how many times has she vomitted in the last 24hrs................... 1 time...1 time... just and hour ago...1 time

Our society thinks that they should NEVER suffer any pain, so what we as Nurses need to practice harder to accomplish is .."TEACHING" Set goals and help your pt understand that being completely pain free is unrealistic. We had out tyl/ motrin doses to mothers for their children... any where you can teach do so. Make sure that first they can read, and make the information in a language that they can understand.

Of course along with another idea I have... place signs up throughout the hospital, and ESPECIALLY in the ER's

#1 Verbal and Physical Abuse on the staff will not be tolerated. :nono:

** if the airlines can prevent you from boarding a flight, or even have you escorted off for whatever reason** why can't we have some form of control over the violence in our work place

#2 Emergency Rooms are not first come first served. Patients are taking according to severity of illness/ injury; which is determined by the triage process... not what you may think:lol2::lol2:

If you have never worked in an ER... it is an acquired taste, and with many difficulties... having to care for people before any pain medication. Inflicting even more pain with the IV's, NGT's, F/C's, Gastirc Lavage, CT's, ETT especially down the nare, moving their mangled body part, or shocking the **** out of them alert or not....:heartbeat. And yes the stressful situation makes people act in not so favorable ways, and those situations are easier to deal with while getting verbally assaulted, but the one's that are BS ******** and raising hell...those are the ones I have a hard time dealing with:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

Today was a good day in the ER... I actually got to be a Nurse I was able to chat a while with the pt, and their families.... get thme something to drink, and warm blankets, and the only reason why it was so nice was because I worked 7a-p and it was a beautiful day... when the sun sat...... HERE THEY CAME... by the car loads:clown:, lucky for me I was on my way out:bowingpur:bowingpur:bowingpur:bowingpur:bowingpur:bowingpur

[WYDiceDancer]

They do it because they can. There is no consequence.

Sure you can. I've pressed charges on a patient and a family member for physically assaulting me. Just because they are a client or their family member does NOT mean that you have to be beaten up. Keep your cell phone in your pocket (ringer off, of course) and don't hesitate to call the police if you need to. If you worked at the mall or in an office, would you be expected to take physical abuse? Of course not, and nurses need to put an end to this ASAP.

[suanna]

Because they are allowed to. They would most likely abuse the grocery store clerk as well but they know they would be arrested.

[showbizrn]

Why do patients and families either mentally or physically abuse nursing staff? Over the course of my 7 years in healthcare I have been kicked, punched, slapped, bitten, pinched, pee'd on, spat upon, and called every possible curse word in existance. But I have yet to see anything CLOSE to these kind of assaults inflicted on the MD's or even other staff like PT, RCP, case management, or even the housekeepers!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT?????

No way

not to this day

will I ever

damn right - NEVER

allow myself

to be physically battered

without negative consequences

hurled back at the attacker.

I'm not in nursing

to get my behind kicked.

I could have done that

with a GED education.

BACK OFF

and

BACK-UP!!!

Talk with your mouth

and not with your hands

OR

I'LL SEE YOU IN COURT----

THAT'S COURT TV!!!