Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

A nurse was attacked in the emergency department. This is her story.

Debbie Moore-Black, RN
Conditions
August 14, 2017
4K Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Victim: Female nurse, age 25

Time: circa 1980

Place: A hospital in a sleepy Southern town with fifty beds, six emergency department beds, one nurse, one doctor and one secretary.

It was an unusually quiet Friday night in this small emergency department.

We all knew Friday was “party day”: pay day, play day, alcohol, pills, drugs, loud music and lots of really bad decisions.

Not only did we cover the entire city, but we also covered many surrounding small towns and all of the conditions these locations imply.

When women came to the ED with “abdominal pain,” we had to break it to them that they were pregnant and ready to deliver. There were gunshot wounds, heart attacks, respiratory arrests, stab wounds, and many a church goers’ “done fall-outs.”

Overdoses, alcoholics, and drug seekers were migrated to the ED equally with snot-nosed kids with colds.

Fridays were the worst nights. But this Friday was different — it was completely quiet.

Then, the radio transmitter called in:

Rescue squad: 19-year-old male, attempted to put his mother’s house on fire. Superficial razor marks to his right inner forearm. Use of PCP — angel dust, Ketamine, horse tranquilizer, hallucinogenic.

The rescue squad came bursting through the ED doors in their normal fashion. He’s young and naked under the sheet. His razor marks … I’ve seen worse. They’re just superficial. His voice is soft and polite pepper with “yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am.”

An MD suggests to put betadine on his razor marks and send him home. No stitches required.

As I apply the betadine, he sits up on the stretcher, stares me in the eye and loudly yells, “I’m gonna f**k you, b***h!” Before I knew it, he grabs my scrub top and tears open the snaps on the front. My bra is in full view, and he gropes my breasts with both of his hands and clutches my vagina.

I was violated.

His incessant squeezing of my breasts and vagina and his repulsive chanting about how he wanted to molest me made me feel as if I was in the darkest side of hell.

I screamed for help, “Call the police!” There isn’t an alarm or a security guard.

The MD kicks the patient’s ankle saying, “Stop that boy,” and the patient continues to “dance” with me across the ED. The secretary notifies the local police to come to our hospital stat.

I was assaulted over and over again until I was backed into a corner. My world stopped. It was me in the corner. And this naked man with his enlarged appendage was starring at me.

This was it.

I did not know any self-defense or survival skills. I knew my nursing pledge to “do no harm,” but I also knew that that “thing” was not going to go inside of me.

I had one hand free and grabbed his naked scrotum. I squeezed as hard as I possibly could and twisted them until I could twist no more.

His eyes rolled upwards, he went limp and fell to the floor. He fainted. I shut him down. I sat on his back, the MD sat on his legs, and finally, a fat-bellied policeman walks in.

“Y’all need some help?”

They carted him off to jail. I was obviously traumatized and started to cry. Dr. X said, “I’m so sorry, I’m just not used to this situation.”

It was Christmas time. It was the season to be jolly.

The hospital gave me three days off and workmen’s comp.

I felt violated and dirty — the nearest thing to being raped.

I was distrustful, angry and I even had a difficult time sleeping with my husband. I thought don’t touch me. Don’t anyone touch me.

But in the midst of all of this, I grew stronger — almost fearless — to where I could stare a man in the eyes and say, “Don’t even try. I will destroy you.” I felt like Superman.

When my attacker fell to the floor, I saw stars and stripes — victory.

But it doesn’t always turn out this way. Blame it on mental illness, alcohol, the wrong people with guns, the epidemic use of opiates or the mere frustration of waiting to be seen in the ED and waiting more than 15 minutes is 15 minutes too long.

The fuse is short in the ED.

Emergency departments across the nation are a haven for violence and abuse. The ENA (Emergency Nurses Association) reported that 80 percent of ED nurses and health care personnel were physically/verbally attacked in the ED 2014-2016. MDs reported being attacked in the ED by 75 percent.

I’m not sure what it will take for our protection.

I do know that a hospital CEO typically makes $3-14 million per year.

Priorities. Go figure.

Debbie Moore-Black is a nurse who blogs at Do Not Resuscitate.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Doctors don't have the luxury of grief

August 13, 2017 Kevin 2
…
Next

Residents need to learn medicine, not how to pass a test

August 14, 2017 Kevin 1
…

Tagged as: Emergency Medicine

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Doctors don't have the luxury of grief
Next Post >
Residents need to learn medicine, not how to pass a test

More by Debbie Moore-Black, RN

  • Second chances and simple beauty in thrift stores

    Debbie Moore-Black, RN
  • Unveiling a journey marked by talents and turmoil

    Debbie Moore-Black, RN
  • Bully nurse in ICU: a shattered moment for a dying patient

    Debbie Moore-Black, RN

Related Posts

  • The work of an emergency department nurse through the eyes of a medical student

    Jennifer Geller
  • Solving the problem of non-emergent care in the emergency department

    Michael Kirsch, MD
  • Violence in the emergency department puts patients and physicians at risk

    Vidor E. Friedman, MD
  • Solving the low-acuity emergency department problem

    Dillon Mercado
  • A place for music in the emergency department

    Thomas Scary
  • Here’s the secret to emergency department efficiency

    Phillip Stephens, DHSc, PA-C

More in Conditions

  • Everyday dangers unknowingly impacting our health

    Tami Burdick
  • A shop teacher’s daughter on transforming patient safety

    Barbara L. Olson, RN
  • What happened to the chemical pathologist?

    Martin C. Young, MD
  • Second chances and simple beauty in thrift stores

    Debbie Moore-Black, RN
  • Air quality alert: Reducing our carbon footprint in health care

    Shreya Aggarwal, MD
  • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

    Ruhi Saldanha
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

      Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD | Physician
    • COVID-19 unleashed an ongoing crisis of delirium in hospitals

      Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher, MD, Nathan Stall, MD, and Paula Rochon, MD | Conditions
    • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

      Ruhi Saldanha | Conditions
    • Everyday dangers unknowingly impacting our health

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Physician autonomy and patient interactions in corporate health care

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Everyday dangers unknowingly impacting our health

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • A shop teacher’s daughter on transforming patient safety

      Barbara L. Olson, RN | Conditions
    • What happened to the chemical pathologist?

      Martin C. Young, MD | Conditions
    • Utilizing AI may reduce maternal and infant mortality

      Matt Eakins, MD | Tech
    • Unraveling the complex enigma of obesity [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Second chances and simple beauty in thrift stores

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 2 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Who Polices Hospitals Merging Across Markets?
  • The ED Is Not the Place to Refer Kids With Mental Health Concerns
  • What Percent of Kids Had Long COVID?
  • Primary Care Visits With NPs, PAs on the Rise; C. Diff in the Intensive Care Unit
  • Are Obesity Drugs for Adolescents Cost-Effective?

Meeting Coverage

  • Fezolinetant Benefits Women Not Suited for Hormone Therapy
  • Plant-Based Estrogen Improves Lipids in Postmenopausal Women
  • New Schizophrenia Treatments Are Coming: Don't Panic
  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

      Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD | Physician
    • COVID-19 unleashed an ongoing crisis of delirium in hospitals

      Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher, MD, Nathan Stall, MD, and Paula Rochon, MD | Conditions
    • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

      Ruhi Saldanha | Conditions
    • Everyday dangers unknowingly impacting our health

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Physician autonomy and patient interactions in corporate health care

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Everyday dangers unknowingly impacting our health

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • A shop teacher’s daughter on transforming patient safety

      Barbara L. Olson, RN | Conditions
    • What happened to the chemical pathologist?

      Martin C. Young, MD | Conditions
    • Utilizing AI may reduce maternal and infant mortality

      Matt Eakins, MD | Tech
    • Unraveling the complex enigma of obesity [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Second chances and simple beauty in thrift stores

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

A nurse was attacked in the emergency department. This is her story.
2 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...