Rubesch said violence against health care workers, patients and their families is a weekly, if not daily, occurrence. Oftentimes, it’s a patient with dementia who is sundowning, experiencing increased confusing as daylight wanes, and potentially becoming violent. It’s not someone who requires law enforcement, but a scenario that could benefit from extra staffing, he said.
“When I don’t get that staff needed to help me make sure that patient isn’t falling, isn’t wandering away, isn’t hitting myself or my [certified nursing assistant] who is trying to keep that patient safe, that creates a very dangerous situation for everyone involved,” Rubesch said.