www.dotcomhunter.com Patient Abuse by Nursing Assistants We have all heard horror stories of patient abuse by Nursing Assista nts. This takes shape in many forms including sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and theft. Most medical facilities Nationwi de are taking precautions against such abuse occurring, including co mpleting background checks. In some states, you can’t work as a Nurs ing Assistant if you have any charges relating to domestic violence, harassment, or drunk driving because it is possible such behaviors can escalate in the work environment. Many organizations complain that Nursing Assistants aren’t properly looked into because the demand is so great in the industry. As a r esult, some employers are lowering the background check expectation s. However, many states are holding the employer responsible when s uch abuse occurs, so this will likely help to curb that process. Sexual abuse charges by Nursing Assistants are taken very seriously. Such sexual abuse reports include allegations of inappropriate touchi ng and sexual intercourse. It is most commonly found to take place wi th male Nursing Assistants with those they are responsible for bathin g. It is the responsibility of Nurses to routinely make a surprise vi sit into the area where a Nursing Assistant is alone with a patient. This will help convey the message that their endeavors may be interru pted and caught. Physical abuse by Nursing Assistants is often hard to prove unless i t has been witnessed or bruises appear. Often this type of abuse is conducted by Nursing Assistants who are not satisfied with their job . They are easily upset, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Some abuse the ir patients as a method of teaching them that they think some of the ir behaviors are inappropriate. For example, some patients have repo rted being hit for soiling their clothes and bedding. This often goe s unreported in elderly populations as they become very afraid. Verbal abuse is one of the most common types of abuse by Nursing Assi stants. It can be simple teasing, belittling, or threats. Often this type of behavior stems out of control issues and the desire to have a more important job. Theft is the number one reported type of abuse by Nursing Assistants. In can include cash, food, jewelry, and even dietary supplements. In medical facilities, such theft can be hard to prove who did it becau se the patient comes into contact with so many individuals who work i n the facility. While most Nursing Assistants do their job with as much energy and wo rk ethic as humanly possible, there are those who give the entire pro fession a bad name. It is sad when you think about it – when is the l A gift from www.dotcomhunter.comwww.dotcomhunter.com ast time a Nursing Assistant who did a good job made National headlin es? Yet let one fall out of line, and you will hear it on the TV, rad io, and the internet continuously. The Nursing Assistant profession can be very difficult. It takes a v ery particular type of individual to be able to meet the requirement s. Employers have a responsibility to protect all the patients. This requires money and time to be spent on extensive background checks and training. It also requires workshops and ongoing training for al l staff members. Everyone should know signs of abuse to be watching for and how to report them. Abuse by Nursing Assistants will be pros ecuted by law. Anyone going into the profession needs to be made ver y aware of that. PPPPP Word Count 556 A gift from www.dotcomhunter.com