Staff learns how to deal with disruptive patients
Staff learns how to deal with disruptive patients
By VICKI ROCK vickir@dailyamerican.com | dailyamerican.com
Somerset Hospital emergency room registered nurse Amy Handwerk controlling an unruly patient, portrayed by registered nurse James Burkholder as Somerset Borough Police Sgt. Stephen Borosky gives direction at a training held on April 15. Staff photo by Vicki
Somerset Borough police Sgt. Stephen Borosky demonstrates how to get away from an
attacking patient who has cornered him. Registered nurse Karisa White is playing the patient.
Somerset Hospital emergency room registered nurse Amy Handwerk approaches a disruptive patient who is face down on the floor kicking at people.
Somerset Borough police Sgt. Stephen Borosky instructs Hankwerk, who is smaller than the patient, as she kneels on the back of the patient’s leg and presses on his back. He stops resisting. “This is really effective,” Handwerk says. Registered nurse James Burkholder was portraying the patient. “It was surprising; I couldn’t move,” Burkholder said.
Borosky on Wednesday taught nurses and other staff of the hospital’s emergency and behavior health departments how to handle disruptive patients. Winning Mind Training of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, developed the Pressure Point Control Tactics Defensive Tactics System based on tactical, legal and medical research. The training is based on the use of the most common pressure points, nerve motor points, joint lock controls and balance. “I’m trying to make it safer for you and for the patient,” Borosky said.
He then played the part of a staff member who is cornered by a patient, played by Karisa White, and demonstrated how to get away from the out-of-control person. White, a registered nurse in the emergency room, said it was a good training.
“I learned a lot that will benefit us and help protect us, especially when we are on the night shift,” she said. J.J. Brady, a technician in the emergency room, also played an unruly patient.”I was absolutely surprised at how effective it is,” he said.
Registered nurse Vickie Shortt said she also liked the class. ”I feel more confident that I can defend patients and staff if needed,” she said.
Borosky said these are control and defensive techniques that officers learn in the police academy.
Additional photographs appear online at www.dailyamerican.com.
Staff photo by Vicki Rock
Posted: Thursday, April 16, 2015