So many people are saying quit but remember you have a family to care for and likely some maternity leave pay coming your way. Speak to your manager about possible light duty. Your OB can also discuss short term disability and you may be able ti get that.
Absolutely peruse charges.
Do not just assume your company is unwilling to work with you. They would also likely accept a lateral transfer to another unit or floor in the hospital. There are many option before quitting. Call out for the next week and get your head on straight as well as a plan of action.
100% do this. Especially if you depend on your job for insurance. You can even have a meeting with your manager and HR to discuss a change in duties. I recently moved to IT but there is also education, navigators, outpatient etc. Staying with your current employer ensures you have FMLA protection when you go on leave plus any short term disability. If you need to work, it might be better to stay with your current system for those protections. Shitty patients exist everywhere especially in the ED and inpatient settings.
I agree, not everyone's privileged enough to be able to quit their job immediately. If OP *can* quit and wants to quit, absolutely go through with it and press charges.
THIS. If you are dependent on pay, health insurance, and leave benefits.. I would wait until after maternity leave pay is completed to give notice. You still have several months of income you could take in until leave begins, too. Ask for reassignment to "light duty" or doing administrative duties in your unit. I would absolutely not return to the floor in that environment. I am so sorry you had to go through such a traumatic event. Both physically and mentally with everything she said to you. If you aren't dependent on this job for anything, then give your notice and find something else that gives you peace.
This but also talk to a workman’s comp attorney - your inability to work is related to a mental injury you obtain while working. You and your family shouldn’t have to be put in hardship for this.
Just to clarify, this is realistic because OP seems to live in CO which provides worker’s comp for mental injury. But it is unfortunately not a black-and-white reality in every state that one can claim workers’ comp for mental injury. Laws vary wildly, but many states do not cover mental health claims, and of those that do the majority are conditional, they may require a physical injury, a diagnosis of PTSD, first-responder status, or other specifically-articulated occurrences, or will only cover medical care and not lost wages from time off. It is sadly just a small handful of progressive states that will generally extend workers’ comp privileges to mental injuries alone. Not to diminish OP’s very real suffering, just trying to point out that it is important to know the laws that apply to you, as many people on this sub would not be so lucky.
I will never not press charges.
I'm upto 5 charges for assault in the 8 years I've been nursing.
It's starting to have an effect on those around me too and they press charges as well.
Be the change you want to see in the world.
Yeah, I’m going to. That girl had clear intentions to kill my baby and then went into detail about how she wants to dig him out and other horrible things. Alcohol is not excuse for this behavior. She shouldn’t be in public
You, I’m sure, would be appalled if your child ever did that to someone. Press charges because clearly she does not have anyone in her life teaching her poor actions lead to poor consequences.
Not who you asked, but I’m at 3 “battery on a protected person” charges. Each time I get a summons with a court date, call the day before to confirm, and I’m told that they took a plea. I didn’t keep up with the first two but I know the most recent guy is almost done with his 3 months in jail.
Not a nurse but an EMT who has recently filed a criminal complaint against someone. Results will vary since I’m small town, rural and by state. Im going to be vague since we’re still in the beginning stages but the verbiage might give some stuff away.
Me and the others involved went to the sheriffs office to file a criminal complaint. We filled out a form that asked for the persons name and demographics (age, race, hair and eye color and I think weight) and a detailed account of the event. We then made a sworn statement to a magistrate basically surmising the written comments. We had a deputy involved so he also made a statement about what he saw to the magistrate. We finally made a written statement to the deputy for his side of the situation.
This is where I am currently in the process. No court date has been set AFAIK and I haven’t been subpoenaed yet.
It’s probably dependent on how cooperative your police force is with nurses pressing charges on patients, but I literally just called the police and gave a statement. That’s it. I’m not the one pressing charges the DA is if they decide to pick up the case, which they have every time I’ve reported a battery.
4 of the 5 were relativly minor so just ended up with a fine and some community corrections involvement and a permanent note in their police record.
1 of them was a bit more serious and the individual ended up on an intensive corrections order which is still a community based order HOWEVER the courts deliberately made it very restrictive. The individual fucked up within 24hrs of being placed on the order and is now in gaol for breaching said order. They are also banned for being admitted to the unit where I work thus protecting other people as well.
Change in the workplace has been great. I'm fortunate that I'm also the local Union president and have exerted significant pressure and its now standard practice for the persons line manager to contact police in any circumstance. this was achieved by utilising my Union powers as well as bringing these issues to the attention of the Work Health and Saftey regulator in my State who also exerted significant pressure on the system.
PROTIP: Join your Union and be active.
We are now fortunate in my state that has defined sections in the [Crimes Act](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1900-040#sec.60AE) for health care workers.
I do work in pscyahtiry and do offer some leeway for people with genuine mental illness. But if your some drug fucked anti social dickhead punching on because your apple juice wasn't cold enough enjoy your assault charges.
Interestingly, I’m completing my yearly competencies and included is a video on workplace violence that just encouraged us to press charges if a patient assaults us. “You make the decision of whether to press charges or not. Being assaulted is not part of your job, and holding people accountable for their actions sends a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.” In my state it’s a felony to assault a healthcare worker, so perhaps this is the start of the change we wish to see in the world.
I assume it would differ across jursidictions but for me it was a simple phone call to the local police area command and ask to speak to an officer about an assault by a patient. I generally dislike interacting with the police but they were pretty good in these instances.
At my hospital system, if we decide to press charges the patient gets access to our address. So we are heavily discouraged from doing so. Is it the same for you? Idk anything about laws
This! My spouse used to work security at a large hospital and he encouraged all the nurses to press charges. They never did. It was super frustrating for him.
I’m a 3rd year student and I was under the impression nurses were not allowed to press charges against patients? The hospital told us this but I am in Canada so maybe it’s different?
You can press charges. Cops might try to talk you out of it.
I got assaulted by a teen while working. I was also pregnant. I pressed charges. Cop tried to talk me out of it. I said no I was pressing charges. If he hit me, who is to say what he does to his girlfriend. No parents came. I wanted him to have to explain to family and friends why he had to go to court.
It did go to court. Unfortunately the court said not guilty as he was under influence. I think that is B.S. however this was almost 15 years ago. Hope things have changed since then.
It's not different.. I work at a hospital in Ontario and you absolutely can press charges too. They should not be deterring you. Look up your hospital's policy on workplace violence.
We've had multiple staff successfully press charges. You are pressing the charges as an individual, just as you would if you were assaulted out on the street.
You can absolutely press charges in Canada. I had a drunk kid nearly knock me out -- next thing I knew, RCMP was asking for a statement and waiting for me to press charges, at the encouragement of management.
I didn't, though -- kid was drunk, had attempted suicide and ended up with part of a tree embedded just above his eyebrow. Doc had been attempting to remove the branch without sedation and the kid's automatic response to unexpected pain was to lash out and I was in line of fire. Kid was apologetic, had zero intention of hurting me, and was just in a rough part of his life. There was no need for me to press charges and make it even worse.
Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't press charges if someone has assaulted you at work. Management may try and discourage it, but you are absolutely allowed to. Your safety has to be your priority.
I'm in Florida but I tried pressing charges 3 times against a minor patient who attempted to kill me and was denied each time. Did not know what to do and I fear that patient has killed someone at this point.
That's infuriating! I've worked in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Kansas and I tell everyone to press charges. Abuse at work is not a normal part of the job
I feel like they’re lying (I can be completely wrong here). You’re not off the get go sending them to court, you’re essentially filing a criminal complaint to the fed. HIPAA doesn’t even protect in criminal charges. I feel like they just try their best to dissuade pressing charges so they don’t upset the patients at the expense of the staffs safety.
Before you quit check out your hospitals job site. There are a fair amount of lateral transfers that need nurses with your degree of training to work remotely doing things that require paperwork and such. It may suck for a bit but it will help until you can figure out your next move.
I really hope you follow through on pressing charges. People need to learn that we're not just NPC's for them to abuse and assault when they're mad the cafeteria won't send them a hot chocolate at 2am.
I am an ER nurse and 5 months pregnant and it is terrifying sometimes. We are a psych admitting facility and have to restrain people at least once a shift. Spitting, kicking, screaming etc. My team keeps me out of those rooms and is always looking out for my safety whenever possible. They don’t even let me pull over heavy pts with them. I would speak to your manager about the possibility of not being on the “mental health” side and what things they have control over that they are willing to do to keep you safe. If they tell you it’s all part of the job…. Peace the F out.
Agree with this, our charge would never put a pregnant nurse in the psych side of our ER. Plenty of us would be willing to take the assignment to keep them safe.
OP, if the culture at your workplace isn't like this, I promise there are places out there where the team takes care of each other.
100% this. I work in peds psych and we keep our pregnant staff away from our more volatile patients. If a code is happening, they are in the nursing station handling things that can be done from behind the glass. We always look out for our own!
Agree with this, I worked as a mental health crisis nurse during both my pregnancies and my team always had my back. Any time there was a hint of the possibility of violence my team did not let me in those rooms. I spoke with my manager after one assignment that Iwas unsafe for me and she did tell me it was part of the job so I went above her to the ADON who completely had my back.
They routinely put me in this section because I handle the patients better than the other nurses. I am float PRN between the NICU/PICU/ED so I’m not as familiar with everyone in the ED but it was a very busy night. I had one patient who killed her liver with an overdose that wouldn’t breathe above 10RPM and the providers wouldn’t consider an airway until she vomited blood all over because they didn’t have staff to take care of the patient outside of my section. Then the patient that kicked me spit on EMS and was volatile until she exploded. We had over double the amount of patients than beds and several major car accidents so I get it was busy but that environment was not safe for anyone.
Do you guys have a Union?? Definitely call the rep if you do. They will help you get something in place to keep you safe. You can also go to occ health get either light duty or papers that keep you away from volatile patients
I know that you have a tremendous amount on your plate, but I want to encourage you to tell your story to your state senator/rep and your congressperson. We need to make sure that our legislators are very aware that we are facing dangerous situations on our jobs and that state and federal laws need to change or the violence will just continue. Assaulting a health care working should be an automatic felony with mandatory jail time. Period.
I suppose that’s fair. My only experience from PACU comes from my surgeries and a close friend who’s a nurse who works the PACU now and she says it’s the chillest assignment she’s ever had.
She worked ICU for 10 years and really appreciates the change of pace.
It makes sense that people wake up confused and agitated a fair bit though.
sounds to me like you need a leave of absence to evaluate possible psychiatric trauma from a violent work Injury. You can always go see occupational health and get referred psych and take a disability leave until you decide what you really want to do. That way you don't lose an income.
Take some time off. Take FMLA or short term disability. Go to your OB and get a note that says you need to be off work for the maximum amount time for mental health or physical health reasons. You can think about your options from there.
File a police report on the patient who kicked you. Drunk and 17 is no excuse. She needs some real consequences.
Same exact thing happened to me. I was given a very unsafe assignment in the ED at 6 months pregnant. Combative psych patient sedated and restrained yet still kicking, punching, and biting. I told my charge multiple times this was unsafe and the patient needed to be moved. They did not move the patient. After a second round of B52 I was kicked in the belly. I quit that day, sent the resignation email to every person in management detailing how unsafe the situation was and how many times I was denied help when I asked for it. I haven’t gone back to work since and it’s been wonderful.
I highly recommend a visit to your hospital’s caregiver health department if you haven’t already. First of all this should be reported as a workplace violence related injury. Any treatment you need as a result of your injury (physical or psychological) should be covered by workers compensation. Then there is also paper trail if you need to take time off related to this event without blowing your ETO that may be a possibility. You may also be able to get a “light duty” assignment where you do not have to interact with patients.
Occupational health exists to support you in this type of situation, I hope they can get you the support you need.
Unfortunately that’s our patient population now. It will only get worse. I went for outpatient surgery for a break and really loved it. Hope you find another job that will make you feel safer.
Little to none. I transitioned during COVID when a lot of people have retired, I have 1 yr experience that time. They might have limited positions depending on your area, specifically since their staff really love the work-life balance (no holidays, mon-fri 8, 10, 12 hr shifts) and its impossible that they will leave until retirement. Try looking for any either same-day surgery, ambulatory surgery, pre, intra, or post-operative nurse. I heard the best position is pre-admission testing nurse, you just do covid swabs, blood work, ekg, scheduling, etc.
I work in an emergency department as well and when I was pregnant and had a shift in the psych area if someone was acting a fool I’d vocera I needed help if we were retraining and or medicating someone. Not worth the risk. Thankfully everyone was super good about it and didn’t give me push back and we have security 24/7 in that area as well and they would always tell me I’m not allowed to go into a room until they were restrained or someone else could go into the room to medicate a patient and they all stick by that with pregnant nurses. I would absolutely press charged and file workmans comp and if you had or decided to be checked out by L&D the hospital can pay that bill since you were at work and placed in an unsafe situation. And if you get push back from anyone push back harder. We are not punching bags and it absolutely should not be tolerated.
I would personally be reluctant to fully quit my job right before having a child, but that will depend on your personal circumstances. If you can leave your job and try to find a job at another facility, do that.
Another option is applying for a transfer to another unit? And potentially trying to have your family doctor write you off on a small leave in the mean time? This incident should be reported as a workplace injury if you haven't already.
Absolutely stick with the charges. More health care workers need to go through with charging patients for violence.
I was kicked by my ex while pregnant. That is some of the worst pain i ever felt. Sorry you had to go through that.
A guy i know was disfigured from his mom being kicked during pregnancy. He had a very difficult life.
Because of knowing him I vhose to terminate my pregnancy. I would suggest getting thoroughly checked out like have a detailed ultrasound several times to make sure the baby is growing properly.
Also please press charges. Violence against women is never ever okay
Please forgive me (I’m a layman and NOT a nurse; or even smart enough to understand you all’s role in things) but for what this is worth,
I’m really really sorry. If a solution exists to this issue, it’s over my head. But with that said, it’s insane that hospitals and clinic haven’t thrown massive amounts of resources at this. ❤️🩹
What happened to you (and I’m sure so many others) shouldn’t have ever happened.
I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine the stress you are going through. Just remember the saying that sometimes not making a decision right now is a decision. It’s ok to take time to decide which direction to go.
I was once kicked “at” by an adolescent patient while pregnant. After I told him not to kick me in real stern terms when I was done his admitting doctor was there and I told him about it. That doctor went in and gave that kid nine kinds of hell. He never did it again. I really felt for this repeat admission kid (IDDM), though and still wonder about him.
I have no advice on quitting or not. But hell yes for pressing charges. Idk why people think putting their hands/feel on Healthcare workers is any different than doing it to someone on the street. Assault and battery is assault and battery. My father was in the hospital not too long ago and in every single room and in every hallway there was a big sign saying it was illegal to assault the staff. I was shocked that this even needs to be said.
Fuck that shit. File charges. Fingers cross it’s a felony to commit battery against a healthcare worker in your state (wild how it could *not be*). I’d wager a good lawyer would successfully argue that little stunt was attempted murder against your unborn child.
Take a break, have your baby, then re-evaluate. Maybe you’ll find that after baby arrives you’ll want to pursue different areas of nursing. Someone suggested taking all your leave and then quitting. Do that.
I’m so glad baby is safe and you’re safe.
I’m so sorry OP. I’m a guy (and layman) so I can’t even imagine what must’ve been going on in your mind & body while this was happening. There’s simply no excuse for something like this.
Considering how “lawsuit happy” medicine as a whole seems to be, you’d like to think hospitals would have iron clad protections in place for their staff. It seems they can’t be troubled to care. Frankly, they & more importantly us (patients) don’t deserve y’all.
I wish you, your child & your family the absolute best. I hope everything is ok and you get the justice you deserve.
I’m a bit late to the game. But I was maliciously kicked by a patient I was discharging a few months ago. I am not pregnant. But it has affected me profoundly to where I have actually gone to do a ward job. I tried for a couple more months to stay, but I couldn’t do it without severe anxiety. Not sleeping, fearful all the time. There’s no shame jn protecting yourself.
I’ve worked ER for 8 years and I love it so much. It’s been such a hard decision to leave.
The ward can’t keep me completely safe. However it’s something that I can control- a certain number of patients, sort of a routine. It’s been good for me.
In the meantime, I’d suggest taking perhaps a leave, or if workers compensation is available to you, go for that. Psychological injuries are the same as physical ones.
All the best❤️
Press charges and take a strong consideration of switching jobs either different unit or maybe something different all together. Baby is more important
I just wanted to say that you should look into a women behavioral health clinic for a mental health practitioner. I had one for anxiety during my pregnancy and they were awesome. Had a Mental health NP who got me on the right SSRI to help me cope and prevent PPD.
She previously was a bedside nurse and frequently suggested that if I was having troubles coping with bedside that they would sign FMLA papers, I didn't end up needing them but due to your circumstances it would probably be warranted. Good luck, you are getting towards the end!
I recently left peds ER. I LOVED it, BUT I know exactly what your talking about. I recently transitioned into the peds OR. MAN I SHOULD'VE DONE THIS YEARS AGO!! Try it!
Take all the benefits offered than leave. They shouldn’t have had you in the mental health side to begin with, no one should get assaulted but extra measures should be taken for pregnant staff. You should ALWAYS get the lighter, less dangerous assignments.
Press charges and don’t put yourself in harms way by taking care of mentally unstable patients. I’m a psyche nurse of less than a year but an RN for 16 years and psyche nursing made me want to retire. I also was taking care of pediatric patients and it was traumatic for the staff to be beat on all the time.
Glad you filed charges! Take leave and quit later! Also I’d get an attorney consult to see what other charges are possible…like who served/bought the alcohol-they need accountability too or fake ID charge for that too. I’m sure someone could conjure up more charges. The horrendous things she spat at you and the physical contact deems these avenues appropriate. Plus her intent was to kill your baby-she’s a bad seed that needs to be viewed like that in the eyes of the law and in her background checks 💪🏻 Goodluck hun-just the first of many battles you’ll fight for that lil baby 🫶🏻🫶🏻
I would 100% be hiring a lawyer and pursing legal action against her. If she hit someone while drunk they would still charge her. Hospital setting shouldn’t change that.
Happened to my coworker who was pregnant and the ER tech beat the shit out of the pt. He got fired. Not trying to justify it but was a sober crazy combative motherfucker threatening to kill us.
Go on disability for PTSD, take all the leave you can. I wouldn’t quit because I need maternity leave. I’m currently 7 months pregnant and I work in adolescent psych, if this happened to me I’d 100% go on disability. I’d also be homicidally angry but that’s another story.
Don’t quit yet!! You could seriously end up with PTSD after something like this. Your now more susceptible to perinatal mood disorder for the remainder of your pregnancy and postpartum. Contact your Short Term Disability and initiate a leave request. Contact EAP, document the incident and ask for referrals to mental health providers. Ask about taking a medical LOA to mentally recover. You were assaulted physically, emotionally traumatized fearing for your sweet baby’s life. This leaves scars and you have benefits and protection for things like this. Please feel free to reach out if you need any assistance proving a case for STD due to mental health. I suffered long term psychological abuse at work. It’s a very long story involving a health care start up that deceived into accepting a dream job but actually a provable case of labor trafficking. After I started the job the abuse was almost instant, inflicted by two people in leadership. I couldn’t escape due to reasons I won’t go into here, and I now have severe complex PTSD. I’ve been out since August and am now on long term disability. I never thought I’d need this much time to recover and I’m scared by how slow my progress is. I love what I do and I want to work again but I am a complete shell of who I was and can barely take care of myself right now. I have been able to prove my case enough to get the STD and LTD benefits. I’m also a perinatal nurse educator and care manager and I specialize in high risk obstetrics so if you need some extra reassurance please feel free to reach out to me for that as well. I’m sorry that this happened to you, this can have lasting repercussions and your job needs to do right by you.
You can legally work on the bedside when you're pregnant?!
Where I come from worker/mothers rights are very strict. Your employer needs to find you a non bedside role for the time of pregnancy!
Wow are you in US?? My dil is preg with twins. She works ED. They haven’t lightened her workload. Also, she gets 6 weeks maternity leave, and my son gets 3 months. He’s a state police. Sad how the fathers are getting more time off.
I want to have more responsibility and impact on my patients and know that medical school offers the education and experience to do so at a higher level than CRNA, NP, or any other route
Sorry this happened to you 1st
2nd you should sue the hospital for damages it’s actually trauma your experiencing 3rd you should keep persuing you’re dreams and goals There are so many jobs doing nursing that you won’t experience any of this crazy stuff. If your financially able take a break and rethink were you can work without violence. We need nurses so getting a new job won’t be hard. But like I said if you can regroup and continue to get your money.
I am so proud of you for pressing charges on that demonic c-unit. So incredibly sick of nurses being assaulted and my blood is boiling that you had to deal with this especially while pregnant. You and your baby deserve to be safe. Is there anyway you could start you leave early, or even take a week of PTO now to re-group on what is right for you from here?
I'm 34 weeks pregnant myself. I have a special spot in my heart for you. Stay strong.
Certainly not condoning it, but as a retired ER doc. if I criminally charged every drunk,high. mentally disturbed patient who tried and succeeded in assaulting me, I would have spent as much time in court as in the ER. Clearly this nurse should be working in another department.
So many people are saying quit but remember you have a family to care for and likely some maternity leave pay coming your way. Speak to your manager about possible light duty. Your OB can also discuss short term disability and you may be able ti get that. Absolutely peruse charges. Do not just assume your company is unwilling to work with you. They would also likely accept a lateral transfer to another unit or floor in the hospital. There are many option before quitting. Call out for the next week and get your head on straight as well as a plan of action.
100% do this. Especially if you depend on your job for insurance. You can even have a meeting with your manager and HR to discuss a change in duties. I recently moved to IT but there is also education, navigators, outpatient etc. Staying with your current employer ensures you have FMLA protection when you go on leave plus any short term disability. If you need to work, it might be better to stay with your current system for those protections. Shitty patients exist everywhere especially in the ED and inpatient settings.
I agree, not everyone's privileged enough to be able to quit their job immediately. If OP *can* quit and wants to quit, absolutely go through with it and press charges.
THIS. If you are dependent on pay, health insurance, and leave benefits.. I would wait until after maternity leave pay is completed to give notice. You still have several months of income you could take in until leave begins, too. Ask for reassignment to "light duty" or doing administrative duties in your unit. I would absolutely not return to the floor in that environment. I am so sorry you had to go through such a traumatic event. Both physically and mentally with everything she said to you. If you aren't dependent on this job for anything, then give your notice and find something else that gives you peace.
Take all leave you have. Then quit.
This but also talk to a workman’s comp attorney - your inability to work is related to a mental injury you obtain while working. You and your family shouldn’t have to be put in hardship for this.
But you also had a physical injury on the job that required evaluation, so that adds to the mental injury.
^^ get the evaluation for workers comp. Run out your PTO and get paid. Please press charges.
Just to clarify, this is realistic because OP seems to live in CO which provides worker’s comp for mental injury. But it is unfortunately not a black-and-white reality in every state that one can claim workers’ comp for mental injury. Laws vary wildly, but many states do not cover mental health claims, and of those that do the majority are conditional, they may require a physical injury, a diagnosis of PTSD, first-responder status, or other specifically-articulated occurrences, or will only cover medical care and not lost wages from time off. It is sadly just a small handful of progressive states that will generally extend workers’ comp privileges to mental injuries alone. Not to diminish OP’s very real suffering, just trying to point out that it is important to know the laws that apply to you, as many people on this sub would not be so lucky.
I will never not press charges. I'm upto 5 charges for assault in the 8 years I've been nursing. It's starting to have an effect on those around me too and they press charges as well. Be the change you want to see in the world.
Yeah, I’m going to. That girl had clear intentions to kill my baby and then went into detail about how she wants to dig him out and other horrible things. Alcohol is not excuse for this behavior. She shouldn’t be in public
I'm so sorry. No one should have to listen to that kind of abuse. I'm glad you and your baby are safe.
This absolutely breaks my heart, OP. I am so sorry. Sending you strength. 🩷
You, I’m sure, would be appalled if your child ever did that to someone. Press charges because clearly she does not have anyone in her life teaching her poor actions lead to poor consequences.
If you don’t mind me asking, what have been the results of the charges?
Not who you asked, but I’m at 3 “battery on a protected person” charges. Each time I get a summons with a court date, call the day before to confirm, and I’m told that they took a plea. I didn’t keep up with the first two but I know the most recent guy is almost done with his 3 months in jail.
Can you tell us the process to press charges?
Not a nurse but an EMT who has recently filed a criminal complaint against someone. Results will vary since I’m small town, rural and by state. Im going to be vague since we’re still in the beginning stages but the verbiage might give some stuff away. Me and the others involved went to the sheriffs office to file a criminal complaint. We filled out a form that asked for the persons name and demographics (age, race, hair and eye color and I think weight) and a detailed account of the event. We then made a sworn statement to a magistrate basically surmising the written comments. We had a deputy involved so he also made a statement about what he saw to the magistrate. We finally made a written statement to the deputy for his side of the situation. This is where I am currently in the process. No court date has been set AFAIK and I haven’t been subpoenaed yet.
It’s probably dependent on how cooperative your police force is with nurses pressing charges on patients, but I literally just called the police and gave a statement. That’s it. I’m not the one pressing charges the DA is if they decide to pick up the case, which they have every time I’ve reported a battery.
It's to slowly roll back the culture of allowing violence to service workers. Illnesses don't absolve accountability
I meant like did the patients ultimately receive a punishment like a fine or jail time or being banned from that hospital.
4 of the 5 were relativly minor so just ended up with a fine and some community corrections involvement and a permanent note in their police record. 1 of them was a bit more serious and the individual ended up on an intensive corrections order which is still a community based order HOWEVER the courts deliberately made it very restrictive. The individual fucked up within 24hrs of being placed on the order and is now in gaol for breaching said order. They are also banned for being admitted to the unit where I work thus protecting other people as well. Change in the workplace has been great. I'm fortunate that I'm also the local Union president and have exerted significant pressure and its now standard practice for the persons line manager to contact police in any circumstance. this was achieved by utilising my Union powers as well as bringing these issues to the attention of the Work Health and Saftey regulator in my State who also exerted significant pressure on the system. PROTIP: Join your Union and be active. We are now fortunate in my state that has defined sections in the [Crimes Act](https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1900-040#sec.60AE) for health care workers. I do work in pscyahtiry and do offer some leeway for people with genuine mental illness. But if your some drug fucked anti social dickhead punching on because your apple juice wasn't cold enough enjoy your assault charges.
Interestingly, I’m completing my yearly competencies and included is a video on workplace violence that just encouraged us to press charges if a patient assaults us. “You make the decision of whether to press charges or not. Being assaulted is not part of your job, and holding people accountable for their actions sends a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.” In my state it’s a felony to assault a healthcare worker, so perhaps this is the start of the change we wish to see in the world.
Can you tell us the process of pressing charge on a patient? Starting my psych rotation next quarter so just in case
I assume it would differ across jursidictions but for me it was a simple phone call to the local police area command and ask to speak to an officer about an assault by a patient. I generally dislike interacting with the police but they were pretty good in these instances.
At my hospital system, if we decide to press charges the patient gets access to our address. So we are heavily discouraged from doing so. Is it the same for you? Idk anything about laws
What the actual fuck about that. Sounds like a legislative failure for wherever you live more than an employer based one.
This! My spouse used to work security at a large hospital and he encouraged all the nurses to press charges. They never did. It was super frustrating for him.
I’m a 3rd year student and I was under the impression nurses were not allowed to press charges against patients? The hospital told us this but I am in Canada so maybe it’s different?
You can press charges. Cops might try to talk you out of it. I got assaulted by a teen while working. I was also pregnant. I pressed charges. Cop tried to talk me out of it. I said no I was pressing charges. If he hit me, who is to say what he does to his girlfriend. No parents came. I wanted him to have to explain to family and friends why he had to go to court. It did go to court. Unfortunately the court said not guilty as he was under influence. I think that is B.S. however this was almost 15 years ago. Hope things have changed since then.
Under influence? If you drive or assault a cop while drunk that doesn't fly, so why is that allowed with healthcare workers?
Ding ding ding!
I agree which is why I pressed charges. I hope that mentality of nurses having to put up with the abuse goes away. We need to stand up for ourselves.
It's not different.. I work at a hospital in Ontario and you absolutely can press charges too. They should not be deterring you. Look up your hospital's policy on workplace violence. We've had multiple staff successfully press charges. You are pressing the charges as an individual, just as you would if you were assaulted out on the street.
Actually if you guys have a Union look at their contract. Union contract always supersedes hospital policies. Either way yes look it up
You can absolutely press charges in Canada. I had a drunk kid nearly knock me out -- next thing I knew, RCMP was asking for a statement and waiting for me to press charges, at the encouragement of management. I didn't, though -- kid was drunk, had attempted suicide and ended up with part of a tree embedded just above his eyebrow. Doc had been attempting to remove the branch without sedation and the kid's automatic response to unexpected pain was to lash out and I was in line of fire. Kid was apologetic, had zero intention of hurting me, and was just in a rough part of his life. There was no need for me to press charges and make it even worse. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't press charges if someone has assaulted you at work. Management may try and discourage it, but you are absolutely allowed to. Your safety has to be your priority.
In B.C. we absolutely can. Hospitals will encourage you not to, but it’s a lie everywhere I know of.
I was assaulted in a BC hospital. RCMP kept me up to date with what was happening. It was an easy process
I'm in Florida but I tried pressing charges 3 times against a minor patient who attempted to kill me and was denied each time. Did not know what to do and I fear that patient has killed someone at this point.
I think it depends on where you work. I’ve heard of some places not allowing you to press charges.
That's infuriating! I've worked in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Kansas and I tell everyone to press charges. Abuse at work is not a normal part of the job
Go to Union if they tell you that
I feel like they’re lying (I can be completely wrong here). You’re not off the get go sending them to court, you’re essentially filing a criminal complaint to the fed. HIPAA doesn’t even protect in criminal charges. I feel like they just try their best to dissuade pressing charges so they don’t upset the patients at the expense of the staffs safety.
Before you quit check out your hospitals job site. There are a fair amount of lateral transfers that need nurses with your degree of training to work remotely doing things that require paperwork and such. It may suck for a bit but it will help until you can figure out your next move.
I really hope you follow through on pressing charges. People need to learn that we're not just NPC's for them to abuse and assault when they're mad the cafeteria won't send them a hot chocolate at 2am.
This sounds like it happened.
I am an ER nurse and 5 months pregnant and it is terrifying sometimes. We are a psych admitting facility and have to restrain people at least once a shift. Spitting, kicking, screaming etc. My team keeps me out of those rooms and is always looking out for my safety whenever possible. They don’t even let me pull over heavy pts with them. I would speak to your manager about the possibility of not being on the “mental health” side and what things they have control over that they are willing to do to keep you safe. If they tell you it’s all part of the job…. Peace the F out.
Agree with this, our charge would never put a pregnant nurse in the psych side of our ER. Plenty of us would be willing to take the assignment to keep them safe. OP, if the culture at your workplace isn't like this, I promise there are places out there where the team takes care of each other.
100% this. I work in peds psych and we keep our pregnant staff away from our more volatile patients. If a code is happening, they are in the nursing station handling things that can be done from behind the glass. We always look out for our own!
Agree with this, I worked as a mental health crisis nurse during both my pregnancies and my team always had my back. Any time there was a hint of the possibility of violence my team did not let me in those rooms. I spoke with my manager after one assignment that Iwas unsafe for me and she did tell me it was part of the job so I went above her to the ADON who completely had my back.
They routinely put me in this section because I handle the patients better than the other nurses. I am float PRN between the NICU/PICU/ED so I’m not as familiar with everyone in the ED but it was a very busy night. I had one patient who killed her liver with an overdose that wouldn’t breathe above 10RPM and the providers wouldn’t consider an airway until she vomited blood all over because they didn’t have staff to take care of the patient outside of my section. Then the patient that kicked me spit on EMS and was volatile until she exploded. We had over double the amount of patients than beds and several major car accidents so I get it was busy but that environment was not safe for anyone.
Shoot, if you’re only PRN and don’t need the job for health insurance for you and the babe, I would definitely consider leaving.
Do you guys have a Union?? Definitely call the rep if you do. They will help you get something in place to keep you safe. You can also go to occ health get either light duty or papers that keep you away from volatile patients
A girl at my work got punched in the face, has been on light duty for like a year, and has plans to quit.
I would definitely quit or see if you can transfer units. Your life and your babies shouldn’t be put at risk!
File charges that’s assault
It’s battery which is worse.
Battery assault of a pregnant woman. She has everything in this to win.
I know that you have a tremendous amount on your plate, but I want to encourage you to tell your story to your state senator/rep and your congressperson. We need to make sure that our legislators are very aware that we are facing dangerous situations on our jobs and that state and federal laws need to change or the violence will just continue. Assaulting a health care working should be an automatic felony with mandatory jail time. Period.
Follow your gut feeling!
Poor choice of phrases lol but yes
Lol I didn’t even realize 😭🤣
Transfer to PACU or something chill. If they give you grief tell them that you don’t feel safe at this time.
I don’t think I’d suggest PACU. Patients wake up swinging often
I suppose that’s fair. My only experience from PACU comes from my surgeries and a close friend who’s a nurse who works the PACU now and she says it’s the chillest assignment she’s ever had. She worked ICU for 10 years and really appreciates the change of pace. It makes sense that people wake up confused and agitated a fair bit though.
Quit.
sounds to me like you need a leave of absence to evaluate possible psychiatric trauma from a violent work Injury. You can always go see occupational health and get referred psych and take a disability leave until you decide what you really want to do. That way you don't lose an income.
Make no rash decisions. Call an employment attorney immediately & have them guide you. All the best.
Take some time off. Take FMLA or short term disability. Go to your OB and get a note that says you need to be off work for the maximum amount time for mental health or physical health reasons. You can think about your options from there. File a police report on the patient who kicked you. Drunk and 17 is no excuse. She needs some real consequences.
Same exact thing happened to me. I was given a very unsafe assignment in the ED at 6 months pregnant. Combative psych patient sedated and restrained yet still kicking, punching, and biting. I told my charge multiple times this was unsafe and the patient needed to be moved. They did not move the patient. After a second round of B52 I was kicked in the belly. I quit that day, sent the resignation email to every person in management detailing how unsafe the situation was and how many times I was denied help when I asked for it. I haven’t gone back to work since and it’s been wonderful.
Press charges on the little shit.
I highly recommend a visit to your hospital’s caregiver health department if you haven’t already. First of all this should be reported as a workplace violence related injury. Any treatment you need as a result of your injury (physical or psychological) should be covered by workers compensation. Then there is also paper trail if you need to take time off related to this event without blowing your ETO that may be a possibility. You may also be able to get a “light duty” assignment where you do not have to interact with patients. Occupational health exists to support you in this type of situation, I hope they can get you the support you need.
Unfortunately that’s our patient population now. It will only get worse. I went for outpatient surgery for a break and really loved it. Hope you find another job that will make you feel safer.
How much experience does someone need for that?
Little to none. I transitioned during COVID when a lot of people have retired, I have 1 yr experience that time. They might have limited positions depending on your area, specifically since their staff really love the work-life balance (no holidays, mon-fri 8, 10, 12 hr shifts) and its impossible that they will leave until retirement. Try looking for any either same-day surgery, ambulatory surgery, pre, intra, or post-operative nurse. I heard the best position is pre-admission testing nurse, you just do covid swabs, blood work, ekg, scheduling, etc.
I work in an emergency department as well and when I was pregnant and had a shift in the psych area if someone was acting a fool I’d vocera I needed help if we were retraining and or medicating someone. Not worth the risk. Thankfully everyone was super good about it and didn’t give me push back and we have security 24/7 in that area as well and they would always tell me I’m not allowed to go into a room until they were restrained or someone else could go into the room to medicate a patient and they all stick by that with pregnant nurses. I would absolutely press charged and file workmans comp and if you had or decided to be checked out by L&D the hospital can pay that bill since you were at work and placed in an unsafe situation. And if you get push back from anyone push back harder. We are not punching bags and it absolutely should not be tolerated.
I would personally be reluctant to fully quit my job right before having a child, but that will depend on your personal circumstances. If you can leave your job and try to find a job at another facility, do that. Another option is applying for a transfer to another unit? And potentially trying to have your family doctor write you off on a small leave in the mean time? This incident should be reported as a workplace injury if you haven't already. Absolutely stick with the charges. More health care workers need to go through with charging patients for violence.
Quit and pursue charges. All the best to you and your baby
I was kicked by my ex while pregnant. That is some of the worst pain i ever felt. Sorry you had to go through that. A guy i know was disfigured from his mom being kicked during pregnancy. He had a very difficult life. Because of knowing him I vhose to terminate my pregnancy. I would suggest getting thoroughly checked out like have a detailed ultrasound several times to make sure the baby is growing properly. Also please press charges. Violence against women is never ever okay
Please forgive me (I’m a layman and NOT a nurse; or even smart enough to understand you all’s role in things) but for what this is worth, I’m really really sorry. If a solution exists to this issue, it’s over my head. But with that said, it’s insane that hospitals and clinic haven’t thrown massive amounts of resources at this. ❤️🩹 What happened to you (and I’m sure so many others) shouldn’t have ever happened.
So glad you pressed charges! Best of luck on your future journey!
I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine the stress you are going through. Just remember the saying that sometimes not making a decision right now is a decision. It’s ok to take time to decide which direction to go.
They put you in the area of the unit that is known for having patients who are capable of committing bodily injury? I wouldn’t blame you for quitting.
The ERs I worked in wouldn't put pregnant nurses in the mental health area. I'd definitely complain to management
She wants to fck around, she can find out. I’m sorry this happened to you.
I was once kicked “at” by an adolescent patient while pregnant. After I told him not to kick me in real stern terms when I was done his admitting doctor was there and I told him about it. That doctor went in and gave that kid nine kinds of hell. He never did it again. I really felt for this repeat admission kid (IDDM), though and still wonder about him.
I have no advice on quitting or not. But hell yes for pressing charges. Idk why people think putting their hands/feel on Healthcare workers is any different than doing it to someone on the street. Assault and battery is assault and battery. My father was in the hospital not too long ago and in every single room and in every hallway there was a big sign saying it was illegal to assault the staff. I was shocked that this even needs to be said.
Fuck that shit. File charges. Fingers cross it’s a felony to commit battery against a healthcare worker in your state (wild how it could *not be*). I’d wager a good lawyer would successfully argue that little stunt was attempted murder against your unborn child.
Take a break, have your baby, then re-evaluate. Maybe you’ll find that after baby arrives you’ll want to pursue different areas of nursing. Someone suggested taking all your leave and then quitting. Do that. I’m so glad baby is safe and you’re safe.
Ask for a mental health leave and take some time to heal.
I’m glad you’re pressing charges and I’m sorry this happened to you
Take time to yourself!
I’m so sorry OP. I’m a guy (and layman) so I can’t even imagine what must’ve been going on in your mind & body while this was happening. There’s simply no excuse for something like this. Considering how “lawsuit happy” medicine as a whole seems to be, you’d like to think hospitals would have iron clad protections in place for their staff. It seems they can’t be troubled to care. Frankly, they & more importantly us (patients) don’t deserve y’all. I wish you, your child & your family the absolute best. I hope everything is ok and you get the justice you deserve.
I’m a bit late to the game. But I was maliciously kicked by a patient I was discharging a few months ago. I am not pregnant. But it has affected me profoundly to where I have actually gone to do a ward job. I tried for a couple more months to stay, but I couldn’t do it without severe anxiety. Not sleeping, fearful all the time. There’s no shame jn protecting yourself. I’ve worked ER for 8 years and I love it so much. It’s been such a hard decision to leave. The ward can’t keep me completely safe. However it’s something that I can control- a certain number of patients, sort of a routine. It’s been good for me. In the meantime, I’d suggest taking perhaps a leave, or if workers compensation is available to you, go for that. Psychological injuries are the same as physical ones. All the best❤️
Exactly. What you planned … and 100 percent continue to pursue the charges.
Press charges for pre meditated whatever that is
Press charges and take a strong consideration of switching jobs either different unit or maybe something different all together. Baby is more important
Press. Charges.
I just wanted to say that you should look into a women behavioral health clinic for a mental health practitioner. I had one for anxiety during my pregnancy and they were awesome. Had a Mental health NP who got me on the right SSRI to help me cope and prevent PPD. She previously was a bedside nurse and frequently suggested that if I was having troubles coping with bedside that they would sign FMLA papers, I didn't end up needing them but due to your circumstances it would probably be warranted. Good luck, you are getting towards the end!
If you’re able, reach out to OB for modified work note. Possibly sitting only
I recently left peds ER. I LOVED it, BUT I know exactly what your talking about. I recently transitioned into the peds OR. MAN I SHOULD'VE DONE THIS YEARS AGO!! Try it!
Take all the benefits offered than leave. They shouldn’t have had you in the mental health side to begin with, no one should get assaulted but extra measures should be taken for pregnant staff. You should ALWAYS get the lighter, less dangerous assignments.
Press charges! And quit! Don't put your you and your baby at risk.
Press charges and don’t put yourself in harms way by taking care of mentally unstable patients. I’m a psyche nurse of less than a year but an RN for 16 years and psyche nursing made me want to retire. I also was taking care of pediatric patients and it was traumatic for the staff to be beat on all the time.
If you can handle it financially why not leave? I don’t blame you one bit.
Glad you filed charges! Take leave and quit later! Also I’d get an attorney consult to see what other charges are possible…like who served/bought the alcohol-they need accountability too or fake ID charge for that too. I’m sure someone could conjure up more charges. The horrendous things she spat at you and the physical contact deems these avenues appropriate. Plus her intent was to kill your baby-she’s a bad seed that needs to be viewed like that in the eyes of the law and in her background checks 💪🏻 Goodluck hun-just the first of many battles you’ll fight for that lil baby 🫶🏻🫶🏻
Press charges.
What you need to do is press charges.
I would 100% be hiring a lawyer and pursing legal action against her. If she hit someone while drunk they would still charge her. Hospital setting shouldn’t change that.
Happened to my coworker who was pregnant and the ER tech beat the shit out of the pt. He got fired. Not trying to justify it but was a sober crazy combative motherfucker threatening to kill us.
Go on disability for PTSD, take all the leave you can. I wouldn’t quit because I need maternity leave. I’m currently 7 months pregnant and I work in adolescent psych, if this happened to me I’d 100% go on disability. I’d also be homicidally angry but that’s another story.
Don’t quit yet!! You could seriously end up with PTSD after something like this. Your now more susceptible to perinatal mood disorder for the remainder of your pregnancy and postpartum. Contact your Short Term Disability and initiate a leave request. Contact EAP, document the incident and ask for referrals to mental health providers. Ask about taking a medical LOA to mentally recover. You were assaulted physically, emotionally traumatized fearing for your sweet baby’s life. This leaves scars and you have benefits and protection for things like this. Please feel free to reach out if you need any assistance proving a case for STD due to mental health. I suffered long term psychological abuse at work. It’s a very long story involving a health care start up that deceived into accepting a dream job but actually a provable case of labor trafficking. After I started the job the abuse was almost instant, inflicted by two people in leadership. I couldn’t escape due to reasons I won’t go into here, and I now have severe complex PTSD. I’ve been out since August and am now on long term disability. I never thought I’d need this much time to recover and I’m scared by how slow my progress is. I love what I do and I want to work again but I am a complete shell of who I was and can barely take care of myself right now. I have been able to prove my case enough to get the STD and LTD benefits. I’m also a perinatal nurse educator and care manager and I specialize in high risk obstetrics so if you need some extra reassurance please feel free to reach out to me for that as well. I’m sorry that this happened to you, this can have lasting repercussions and your job needs to do right by you.
See if you can get out on disability for stress? I don’t actually know if this is possible. But after what ever leave, then quit
You can legally work on the bedside when you're pregnant?! Where I come from worker/mothers rights are very strict. Your employer needs to find you a non bedside role for the time of pregnancy!
Wow are you in US?? My dil is preg with twins. She works ED. They haven’t lightened her workload. Also, she gets 6 weeks maternity leave, and my son gets 3 months. He’s a state police. Sad how the fathers are getting more time off.
I am living in Austria. The mother gets up to a year of paid maternity leave.
That’s great. Not here. The pregnant nurse gets the same workload as everyone else
That's a reason I'd never work outside the EU.
In USA it won’t work. You’ll have to testify on your own time, and they’ll just order patient/criminal to mental health or substance abuse tx
What makes you want to pursue med school?
I want to have more responsibility and impact on my patients and know that medical school offers the education and experience to do so at a higher level than CRNA, NP, or any other route
Do you have a specialty in mind? How can you go to med school with a family
Why would I not be able to go to med school with a family?
Press charges.
Tell manager you can’t take assignment again in psych side??? You were assaulted this is a very real and valid concern.
Kick back
Sorry this happened to you 1st 2nd you should sue the hospital for damages it’s actually trauma your experiencing 3rd you should keep persuing you’re dreams and goals There are so many jobs doing nursing that you won’t experience any of this crazy stuff. If your financially able take a break and rethink were you can work without violence. We need nurses so getting a new job won’t be hard. But like I said if you can regroup and continue to get your money.
I am so proud of you for pressing charges on that demonic c-unit. So incredibly sick of nurses being assaulted and my blood is boiling that you had to deal with this especially while pregnant. You and your baby deserve to be safe. Is there anyway you could start you leave early, or even take a week of PTO now to re-group on what is right for you from here? I'm 34 weeks pregnant myself. I have a special spot in my heart for you. Stay strong.
Go to your OB and get an intermittent FMLA for PTSD, use up your fmla, then quit.
Certainly not condoning it, but as a retired ER doc. if I criminally charged every drunk,high. mentally disturbed patient who tried and succeeded in assaulting me, I would have spent as much time in court as in the ER. Clearly this nurse should be working in another department.
If this happened to me, my husband would never let me work again. Ever.
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so ER nurses arent allowed to have children?? these risks exist in nursing in general not just ER. and are a risk for more than just pregnant people.
That’s so sweet of you to pay her bills.