Fuck!! Do Over - Workplace Violence.

[Dean from Australia]

Last night whilst working in the adult ICU, I had the shit beaten out of me by a patient.

The patient has a septic infection and it has caused him to become disoriented and co.fused. But no one was prepared for him to lash out. I was about to administer an antibiotic via his central venous catheter and he literally blew up - grabbing me in a head lock and landing a flurry of punches to my chest, shoulder, face and arms. As I tried to pull away he dropped me like a bag of shit with a punch to my ribs just under my heart. The loud crack that issued as I fell said it all. To add insult to injury, the patient pulled out his central line causing blood to start pissing everywhere and as I got to my feet and called a Code! I had to pull my shit together an slam a hand on the side of his neck to stop the bleeding, suffering more abuse and hits.

Once the team got in and restrained the patient, I was taken to the ER and examined and X rayed. I scored a broken rib and contusions to my chest wall and shoulder as well as a few cuts and scrapes elsewhere.

I was sent home. I feel pretty awful and I'm jumping at shadows. This is the second time I've been assaulted in 6 months and I'm beginning to fear that if I get assaulted again, I could well end up a basket case. I've been an ICU Nurse for 10 years (a Registered Nurse for 15) and I fear I'm hitting the wall.

How do I get through this? Any advice? Any war stories of your own?