ALL that nurse June Koh wanted to do was to check the patient's blood sugar level. Instead, she got a kick in the chest. The 62-year-old man, who was admitted for abdominal surgery, turned violent when she pricked his finger for the test.
The impact of the kick was so great that she had to consult a doctor. 'I had chest pains for several days,' said Ms Koh, 38. 'But I don't blame the patient because he had psychiatric problems.'
Her experience is not unique. Two weeks ago, a man was sentenced to three months in jail for punching a nurse at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).
A check with five hospitals showed that verbal and physical abuse of their staff, including doctors, by patients or their next of kin is not uncommon.
Changi General Hospital (CGH) reported 13 cases of such abuse in 2005, nine in 2006, 10 last year, and nine so far this year. At the National University Hospital (NUH), there were 25 cases of physical aggression last year, and 12 so far this year. At the Singapore General Hospital, the number of cases shot up from nine in 2005 to 74 last year.
IMH, which says its patients' mental health problems make its staff more prone to abuse, saw about 12 cases monthly last year and 11 each month this year.
In June this year, the Workplace Safety and Health Council issued a set of guidelines that said a system should be in place to lessen the exposure of health-care workers to violence and abuse.
Patients usually turn abusive due to their conditions, when drunk and when they get impatient.
Emergency department nurse K.S. Yoo, 33, was once punched in the face when he tried to clean the vomit off a drunk's face. The man went on to punch a doctor in the abdomen. Police reports were filed.
'Drunks are usually verbally abusive. Some female nurses cry; they can't take it,' said Mr Yoo.
Other nurses say it is also common for patients to spit, scratch or even bite them. Some patients threaten to assault them outside the hospitals, while others threaten to complain to the media, MPs and 'big shots' when they get impatient while awaiting treatment.
At IMH, notices on walls inform patients that it does not tolerate violence against its staff. Clinics and wards are fitted with an alarm system to mobilise help, if necessary. In cases where patients are deemed mentally stable and the attack is malicious, legal actions are taken or police reports filed.
At NUH, straitjackets and sedatives may also be used on patients who may harm themselves or others. At CGH, all security officers and some nursing staff are trained in unarmed combat to defend themselves without hurting the patients.
Even with all these measures, though, some medical personnel are still scarred. NUH staff counsellor Chan May Peng has helped 11 nurses cope with the trauma of being abused so far this year.
Some nurses suffer from nightmares after an attack, while others get recurring flashbacks of the episode. They may also feel upset or agitated easily.
'We give emotional and psychological support, to let them know that it's a common response,' said Ms Chan. 'Sometimes, managers and supervisors also give time off from work.'
All nurses interviewed said practically every nurse would be verbally or physically abused at some point in her career. 'It's not an easy job dealing with sick and impatient people,' said nurse K. Tan, 32. 'The public needs to understand we're doing our very best and give us the respect.'
