I'm a nursing student who's working as a personal support worker at a nursing home this summer. The pay is good (for a student) and it really helps me gain experience in the health care field (and I've learned a lot since I've started, too!)

Anyway, there is one resident who is abusive, both verbally and (sometimes) physically. Often times, she's very demanding. We know she's capable of doing many things herself, like dressing and transferring from her wheelchair to her bed (and vice versa), but she does need some help like with toileting and washing (when she lets us - she's not fond of being washed).

However, she often demands that we help her with things she's capable of doing, just so that we can attend to her. One night, I finished helping her with toiletting and I said, "Ok, that's all, I have to go now." And I really did because I had another resident on the bed pan who would be needing me soon. But she kept demanding I stay and do things for her, like find her socks (even though I know she knows where they are) and put them on for her (even though it was nighttime and they weren't needed...and even so, I saw her about ten minutes later and she had already taken them off). I left her, even though she was screaming for me, so I could attend to the other resident I was helping but even so, she kept ringing the call bell until I came back. And even after I left after that next time I was with her, she kept ringing, making more work for me like taking out all her clothes from her closet and throwing them around the room, demanding I either put them back or take them away to the laundry. She even screamed at me for not closing her bathroom door.

But that's not the worst of it.

She steals things, too - everything from diapers to food to mealtime bibs from the dining room. We also have reason to believe she stole a bottle of perfume from another resident's room. One day, between breakfast and lunch, I caught her on her way to the kitchen fridge. She knows she's not allowed there because she has enough food in her own mini-fridge in her room and she has obesity issues so we try to control what and how much she eats. Besides, she doesn't wash her hands with soap so it's just not sanitary to let her touch everything in the common fridge that's meant for all the residents. So I call out to her, tell her she's not allowed in that area, and try to wheel her away. She retaliates by trying to snatch one of the bibs on the nearby counter. So I grab the bib (because she's known for stealing them) and she tries to pull it away from me. As she does so, she spits right into my face. Still, I don't let go and I tell her that she shouldn't spit at me. Her answer is to spit at me again. After that, I'm too disgusted and angry to fight so I let go of the bib. She's still not done yet and uses the bib like a whip to hit me as I walk away.

And it's not just me. She's also yelled and spit at other PSWs, as well, even calling some of the black PSWs "Nigger". After these incidents, I just don't know how to deal with her. I know it's verbal and physical abuse and it shouldn't be tolerated because she's a resident who knows what she's doing and isn't confused; but at the same time, it's not like we can do much except tell her "no", which obviously does not work.

I, too, think she needs some companionship but realistically, we can't spend all our time with her because we have several other residents who need our help more. I've had incidences where I've had a bit of spare time and when she called, I spent a bit of time with her but each time I tried to get away to get back to work, she's extremely reluctant to let me go and starts demanding attention again.

As for having her transferred to another LTC facility, somehow I doubt it'll happen because the home where I work is a fabulous and welcoming place that doesn't seem like the type of place to turn people away. There are a couple other residents in the home who also have some behavioral issues but they're still very much around. Of course, this resident is a little different because she knows what she's doing. The others who have behavioural issues have developmental disorder, such as Downs Syndrome, or are confused and get defensive. Consequently, I can understand why they behave the way they do.

I agree about a consistent plan of care, however. Thanks for the tip. I'll have to speak to my co-workers and hopefully, something will be resolved because it's not just me who's getting frustrated with her.

I READ YOUR ARTICLE WRITTEN ON THE ABUSIVE RESIDENT OF THE NURSING HOME AND I WAS APPALED @ THE RESIDENT'S BEHAVIOR TO SAY THE LEAST. IS IT POSSIBLE TO PERHAPS IMPLEMENT SOME SORT OF DISIPLINARY MEASURES TO THIS RESIDENT WHEN SHE ACTS OUT? SPITTING ON SOMEONE IS VERY UNACCEPTABLE AND EXTREMLY UNSANITARY FOR MULTIPLE HEALTH REASONS. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THOSE WHO HAVE HAD TO WORK WITH THIS PERSON AND THEY'RE PATIENCE AND GRACE UNDER FIRE FROM THIS OBVIOUSLY DIFFICULT PERSON AS WELL. IF THIS ACTING OUT BY THIS RESIDENT CONTINUES,IS IT POSSIBLE TO LODGE A COMPLAINT TO WHOMEVER RUNS THE NURSING HOME?( A DIRECTOR OF THE NURSING HOME ECT.) HOPEFULLY THE RESIDENT AND THE NURSING STAFF AND RESIDENT CAN  RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM SO THE RESIDENT CAN CONTINUE TO RECIEVE THE CARE SHE NEEDS BUT ALSO DISPELL THE VERY INAPRROPRAITE BEHAVIOR SHE'S DISPLAYING AND THE STAFF THERE TREATED WITH RESPECT BY THIS RESIDENT. I FEEL VERY BADLY FOR THE NURSING STAFF WHOV'E GOT TO WORK WITH THIS RESIDENT.

It sounds to me like these patients are scared that they will be left alone providing her with ^ anxiety.... 1 thing you can try is explain to her that you will check on  her q15 min... then do it. You can expand that time after she knows you are coming back... Don't wait for her to call you, go without being called..After a while, hopefully she won't  feel so alone and left by herself. You didn't mention if this was Alzheimers or dementia.. Unfortunately, this behavior will on get worse as time goes on... Perhaps med adjustment is what is needed...Try not to take this so personal, that is the reason we all became nurses... Try to do things proactively, and hopefully thisattention needer will calm down..

ninelives, great thoughts...Thanks, Teresa

que 123   ???   Teresa