In Episode 3 of The ER Edit, we talk about something that doesn’t get talked about enough: violence against nurses.
We react to a recent news story about a nurse being strangled at work and share our own experiences with workplace violence in the ER. From being assaulted by patients to the pressure of continuing your shift like nothing happened, we break down what this actually looks like in real life.
We also talk about the gray area of self defense in healthcare, why so many incidents go unreported, and why nurses are often expected to just deal with it.
This one is real, a little heavy, and something we think people need to hear.
The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of Caitlin Armstrong and Karlie Tooley and do not represent the views, policies, or positions of their current or former employers, hospitals, healthcare organizations, or any affiliated institutions. This podcast is for entertainment and general discussion purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.
00:00 Cold Open: Self Defense Confusion
00:12 Welcome Back to The ER Edit
00:30 Are People Really Hooking Up in Hospitals?
02:30 The Viral Nurse Attack Story
03:30 Nurse Strangled at Work
04:40 Why Violence Goes Unreported
05:30 “I Didn’t Have Time to Press Charges”
06:20 Being Alone in the ER Waiting Room
07:30 That “Spidey Sense” You Can’t Explain
08:40 When De-escalation Doesn’t Work
09:30 Can Nurses Even Defend Themselves?
11:00 The Reality of Feeling Unsafe at Work
12:30 When You Get Too Comfortable in the ER
14:00 Why Nurses Are Constantly at Risk
15:00 “You Signed Up for This” (The Biggest Myth)
17:00 Why Nothing Actually Changes
19:00 The Anxiety Families Feel at Home
20:30 Workplace Violence Statistics (Shocking)
22:30 Why Hospitals Don’t Fix This
24:00 The Urinal Story (Covered in Pee)
27:30 The Aftermath Nobody Talks About
29:30 Why Nurses Don’t Press Charges
30:30 “Those Signs Don’t Do Anything”
31:00 Why Your Work People Matter Most
32:30 When Security Isn’t Enough
33:30 Why These Stories Need to Be Told
34:30 The Line Between Empathy and Safety
35:30 We’re Human Too
36:00 What We Wish We Knew as New Grads (Preview)
