It touches us all, some more than others....
Unfortunately, sometimes nurses miss the signs of abuse. Abuse is out there, all we have to do is look, listen and feel, that's the easy part. The hard part is the reporting. Sometimes it gets complicated and we think we're just to busy to get involved. We HAVE TO, it's the law, and it someone's loved one.
What is Patient Abuse, Neglect or Mistreatment?
Some indicators include:
- Frequent unexplained injuries or complaints of pain without obvious injury.
- Patient complaints of assault, neglect for personal needs, verbal or emotional abuse by care givers.
- Excessive delays in response to patient needs due to understaffing.
- Burns or bruises suggesting the use of instruments, cigarettes, etc.
- Passive, withdrawn and emotionless behavior.
- Lack of reaction to pain.
- Sexually transmitted diseases or injury to the genital area.
- Fear of being alone with caretakers.
- Obvious malnutrition.
- Lack of personal cleanliness and/or lack of clean linens and other supplies.
- Habitually dressed in torn or dirty clothes.
- Obvious fatigue and listlessness.
- Begs for food or water.
- In need of medical or dental care.
- Left unattended for long periods.
- Bedsores and skin lesions.
Detecting abuse
Warning Signs and Symptoms of Abuse and
Neglect of People with Developmental Disabilities
The Gray Panthers
NURSING HOME ABUSE INFORMATION
There is little difference in people,
but that little difference makes a big difference. That
little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether
it is positive or negative.
--- W. Clement Stone
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