explosive behavior

[Bermiedoc]

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Okay i am doing a summer program in child psychiatry and had a 13yo exhibit explosive behavior today. he was cursing up a storm and punched the cabinet, table banged a chair on the floor and hit his mother. i tried to sit quielty in the corner hoping he wouldn't turn it on me. then i asked a psychiatrist if he has ever had the anger turned on him and he said yeah it's a part of the job. 😱 I am so scared now. amd i going to walk around black and blue from patients beating me up? or how do i keep from laying a kid out? io woudl liek to hear your expreinces with violent patients. should i consider this a factor when considering this field?

 

[DrIng]

Things should never get to the stage that a patient is physically violent towards you. If you feel unsafe have a second person there, like a nurse to help if needed, levae the door open and end the consultation if the patient is getting too aggressive, Bear in mind that by the time the patient is that worked up they're hitting things you're not going to be able to do them much good at that point anyone. And people need limits to their behaviour it's the way society functions.

 

[Dr.Wolkower]

explosive behavior should have limits set whether it happens in the er,im floor or psych.
when any patient raises their voice starts to pace or curse end the interview. period,-because the next step is going to be physical violence to an object or staff,

it helps to have additional staff police present as a show of force helps stop behavior from escalating

ask your attending for help some patients may require medication

no being punched is not part of the job-
i think your attending is not right k if he said this to you.

it is important to note that physicians have more workplace violence over the years-thats why its important to calm people set limits and be polite

 

[Neuron]

Bermiedoc,

I am surprised the psychiatrist did not take the time to address your fears after such an irregular interview. If he was there in the role of a preceptor or supervisor, this ought to have been a fundamental concern for him. You ought not to have to resort to postings on SDN to gain some reassurance that medicine will not send you home daily with physical manifestations of disgruntled patients.

To add to DrIng's thoughts, always know your exits. There is almost no need to lock (or even shut) doors in hospital, certainly never alone with a patient in a psychiatric one. If a situation progesses to the point where you're wondering if you should call security, the answer is very clear. Call security.