unrelenting, continuous, loud, right to your face verbal abuse, insinuating you overdosed the patient, pointing his fingers right to your face, claiming he is going to sue me and the hospital.
I froze, because this is the first time something like this happens to me, my ears hurt.
I don’t know how long I stayed there, completely still because I didn’t know what else to do. At some point I stopped listening to him and simply walked away to a restroom. Miraculously, he didn’t follow me. I was ready to punch him if he touched me.
Out of the workplace, if somebody acts like that I either walk away or answer back or defend myself physically, should it escalate. Enduring that level of verbal abuse is something nobody enjoys, nor is something I am willing to tolerate.
The rest of my shift wasn’t funny. Incident was reported.
Leaving without saying a word is the best thing you can do. This will be far from the last time. It’s stupid how much abuse nurses take, and are expected to take. Sadly, the hospital is not there for you, they are there for the paying “customers” no matter how much they say abuse isn’t tolerated.
Also know if someone yells that they’re going to sue, they’re more than likely bluffing — the real lawsuits happen quietly and without announcement. Make sure you always document everything, no matter how trivial, and cover your ass. The chart is where management will go first.
Source: spouse worked in an ICU during Covid.