Nurse attacked by patient in Milwaukee hospital: ‘A street brawl that you would see in a movie’

MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee nurse is sharing her story after being attacked by a affected person.

It comes at a time when nurses are already briefly provide. This nurse got here ahead in hopes of stopping this abuse from taking place to anybody else.

A brand new survey from The American School of Emergency Physicians discovered that greater than 8 in 10 emergency physicians imagine the speed of violence in emergency rooms has elevated.

Milwaukee registered nurse Joni Acala agrees. She says it took greater than a month to share together with her shut mates the assault she endured on Sept. 24.

“That they had the toughest time getting her to let go of my hair and you could possibly see her hitting me,” mentioned Acala, including that it took 5 males to get an irate affected person who didn’t need to go away the emergency room off her. “It was like a road brawl that you’d see in a film.”

She says she was grabbed from behind whereas strolling down the hallway previous the affected person’s room.

“The affected person ended up grabbing me from behind by my hair. I used to be punched behind the pinnacle a number of instances, my fingers damaged, which remains to be damaged. I must get it surgically repaired.”

She says all of it occurred in a matter of 45 seconds. Acala says it ended together with her getting kicked within the jaw.

“So now I’ve persistent ache in my left ear each time I chew one thing that is crunchy.”

She additionally has quarter and nickel-sized chunks of her hair lacking after the assault.

“I simply put on it up now with a scarf due to all of the spots. You may see it and it makes me self-conscious.”

Even worse has been the emotional toll it has taken on her. She says she sought remedy for the primary time after the incident.

“I am not working, I am not taking in an earnings.”

The mom of two doesn’t need us to determine which hospital she works for. She is taking time to recuperate and hopes anybody who learns about what occurred to her will cease and hear.

“There must be extra safety,” mentioned Acala, including that at hospitals, particularly emergency rooms, “there must be anyone on the door.”

Lawmakers in our state have taken discover and handed a legislation this 12 months, making it a felony to threaten a healthcare employee.

Acala says proper now she doesn’t plan on making any selections about her personal future as a nurse. It’s a place she has beloved for the previous 9 years.

“I like taking good care of folks.”

She says the affected person who attacked her was ordered to undergo a therapy program however was by no means charged.

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