question: can you chart on a pt. being rude?

Is it just part of our job as a nurse to deal with rude behavior and the name calling or can i document on a pt being mean, grabbing my arm tight when yelling at me, accusing me or just mocking me? These a various pt by the way all elderly men....
You can certainly chart on a patient's unbecoming behavior. However, it is recommended you do it in an objective manner that states the facts and leaves your personal opinions at the door."Patient grips this writer's arm and yells, 'All of you nurses are stupid witches!'" sounds more objective and factual than "Patient is mean, rude, and mocks this writer."

I have written things like irritable, frustrated, resistant to care, combative, demanding, although I agree it's important to be as objective as possible. Quotes are great. & that patient seems like my worst nightmare. NO TOUCH!!!

If you are gonna write it, I agree it needs to be in a "patient with increased agitation" as opposed to subjective information--and be sure that you tell the MD, and then you are able to either get a prn for agitation, or "patient with increased agitation, MD aware, no new orders (or prn med ordered)" Then you can follow up as well about if the med worked or not.

Document what you see, hear and feel (not emotions but things like getting hit or scratched)--not what you think it means. Not, "Patient became rude and hostile," but, "Patient threw wash cloth, grabbed this writer's arm, and used vulgar language." This takes your judgment out of the picture and allows the facts to speak for themselves. If you're going to be giving this patient for something for anxiety/agitation, it's much better to have an objective record of their behavior than your personal conclusion, which could make it look as if you medicated them because you were upset.

You could write " pt became physically and verbally aggressive".

Haha at my ED we can fine people!!! One of the nursing staff, when he first started didn't speak great English and was told by a patient 'go back to where you came from' so he fined the patient $200

Quote from loriangel14You could write " pt became physically and verbally aggressive".

We have sections for behavior charting. This would definitely be charted and monitored.

I try to document this clearly as well. I often quote things said and if there is any physical contact I make sure to document this as well.

Quote from Rhi007Haha at my ED we can fine people!!! One of the nursing staff, when he first started didn't speak great English and was told by a patient 'go back to where you came from' so he fined the patient $200

I'd chart something like that under psychological/behavioral. It's not about being petty or trying to "get back" at a patient for offending the staff. Charting on behavior/psychological/pt's affect has a legitimate place in your assessment.And yes, I definitely chart it with lots of direct quotes and objective observations. It not only helps to create a baseline for the patient, but it can track increasing aggitation, long and short-term psych issues, how patients are coping with their diagnosis/hospitalization/treatment course and it also warns your fellow staff: docs, nurses, PT/OT, techs--everyone who has to venture bedside.

If the patient is rude, I'd chart the specifics of his behavior.0800 "Patient states, "I don't want to see your face, get the **** out of my room." Pt. refused vital signs, slammed the door to hospital staff. Tried deescalating... 0845 Pt. paces the room, states he doesn't want to be in the hospital. Attempted to deescalate, patient slammed the door...Document what the patient did, what you did to bridge the behavior and if it's a success or not.