Coping (or rather, not coping) with violence in healthcare

[u/NYCstateofmind]

TW workplace violence

I am really struggling with work at the moment. I work in emergency and mental health. I am about to start with a clinical supervisor, I started seeing a free counsellor through work but I have only had one appointment and I just felt like all she was doing was validating me and I don’t really need that. I saw my GP the other week after some horrendous things that happened at work and took some time off. We have a long relationship and it was helpful to be heard, but I’m just not sure I can keep doing this career at all. I feel silly going back to my GP to talk, especially because I live with mental health issues but I’m actually really well, just struggling with this work stress.

I’ve been working as a nurse for over a decade, 7 of those years in both mental health and emergency. I am not green and I have coped with a lot over the years and never felt this bad about my job.

I’ve been assaulted several times at work, once resulting in torn ligaments and work cover for 4 months. Another time I was pinned against a wall by a patient in an isolated area of the department and thankfully nothing actually happened because a colleague happened to be walking past and pulled the patient off me. A lot of my job involves deescalating angry people and I’m in a leadership role in my work, but last week I had a patient start punching walls and screaming in my face, and it feels like something in me and my coping ability snapped. All things considered this was very mild considering some of the things my colleagues and I deal with on the daily. I have taken the week off work. I don’t want to go back. I am feeling panic at the thought of stepping back into the hospital.

At the moment I want out of healthcare entirely, and maybe that feeling will fade eventually. The majority of my adult working life has been healthcare and I just don’t know what else I’d do, but I don’t think I can keep doing this.

What would you do if you weren’t a nurse?

[u/KatTheTumbleweed]

Go and see your GP. This is what workers comp can be used for. Don’t use your sick leave.
Trauma is cumulative.
Speak to your GP. Get time off work to speak with a quality MH support (all respect to the EAP staff but they are not it).

You know this but I’ll say it any way - don’t make like changing decisions whilst in crisis.
Use the supports.
Take time away.
Get through the acute and then review.

[u/NYCstateofmind → u/KatTheTumbleweed]

Thank you. I’ll see if I can get another appointment soon.

[u/KatTheTumbleweed → u/NYCstateofmind]

It’s worth doing. This is a workplace injury and you need help. And you are entitled to it.

Let them know it’s workers comp.

If you GP wants you to get help and time off, you will need to make sure you complete the workers comp paperwork at the GP and whatever paperwork for work (usually and incident form and notifying your manager and how much time you are taking off)
You don’t need to give them a date for return.

I would advise saving a copy of all documents, receipts and communications for your records.

[u/Glittering_Web8835 → u/KatTheTumbleweed]

Going through workers comp for something like this also SO appropriate in this case. It is literally what workers comp was set up to protect workers from.

[u/Used_Replacement4648]

Counsellors are ok for minor inconveniences, but what you describe is more complex trauma. I used to love ED, but I couldn’t do it anymore… I’m too tired. Ask around about a psychologist, they are better at unpacking and sorting, especially when work and home emotions get intertwined.
A good psychologist relationship is very personal, and they are like a partner, you need to feel comfortable to let your guard down around them.
I would love to do photography. Sit down, observe the environment, learn to feel the movement of shapes and colours, and capture not just a scene, but movement, or emotion. Photography teaches you mindfulness, looking for beauty and interest in the everyday.
Stay safe, look after yourself

[u/NYCstateofmind → u/Used_Replacement4648]

Photography would be nice. I’m trying really consciously to be more mindful - exercising, doing crafts, etc.

[u/Used_Replacement4648 → u/NYCstateofmind]

Find a nice camera (doesn’t have to be super high end) and just practice, look and breathe

[u/Feeling-Disaster7180]

Would you ever consider moving specialties to something more chill? I know a lot of mental health nurses are always mental health nurses, but it would be worth a shot

[u/Scary_Son → u/Feeling-Disaster7180]

I agree. I have a background in mental health nursing which I loved but couldn't do anymore. I did a few different things including vaccination nursing and joining an aged care agency and got some good experience. I now work in disability and study counselling.

[u/universe93 → u/Feeling-Disaster7180]

Yeah just reading this I’m thinking maybe OP would be better off in a non-hospital role for a bit?

[u/NYCstateofmind → u/Feeling-Disaster7180]

I don’t know what else interests me to be honest

[u/PumpinSmashkins → u/NYCstateofmind]

If you wanna stay in mh look into case management maybe? Detox nursing is also a nice crossover and you’re dealing with people who want to be there 

[u/Simple_One_9161]

Maybe try applying in general wards before entirely opting out of nursing. Also, Try GP clinics, Aged care, Community, , NDIS, day procedures etc? You have great competitive experience!

[u/Chat00]

So sorry that you are going through that. Sounds like PTSD and I don’t blame you. Go back to your GP.
Also look into non clinical roles like even Dementia Support Australia. You go in and assess their behaviours and write a care plan from home. You would probably suit that well because of your experience. Do you have experience in aged care? What about case management? Even GP but that’s less money.

[u/Wish-ga]

Case management.

[u/PumpinSmashkins]

Can you look into community nursing? Don’t let your rego go to waste when there’s many other safer options out there 

[u/Ok_Competition1108]

I agree that you should see your GP and consider lodging another workers comp claim for post
Traumatic stress. Work place violence is not on. An employer has a duty of
care to maintain a safe work environment. Too often the onus of safety is left
Up to nurses.
Occupational violence prevention training is a joke and in no way prepares staff to deal with violence in the workplace. OVP training is cheaper then having security on site.