What can the unit do about a patient who brings a knife to treatment? I complained to the charge nurse that the patient had it-- she hadn't seen it because he hid it when she walked by.The unit administrator had already left for the day, or I would have talked to her about it.

Can the patient be told to go to another unit? I certainly don't want to dialyze with weapons in the unit... it's hard enough to feel safe during treatment as it is!

What kind of knife is it? Is it a pocket knife, bowie style knife, a kitchen knife? Is this patient hostile? If you feel threatened, then your administrator is your first line of communication with this patient. Why do you say it is hard enough to feel safe during treatment as it is? Is your patient population that hostile? The reason I ask what kind of knife it is; is that roughly 50% of the male population carry pocket knives, and would be lost w/o it. No stats here, just personal observations. Regardless, all buisnesses have policies regarding the carrying of weapons. Just talk to your administration and let them handle it.

Write an incident report and make sure the Dr. is aware of it. He should be given a 30 day notice

Thanks... the patient was warned, continued to bring the knife, and was transferred to another unit.


Unfortunately, he continues to be a problem there... moving him didn't solve anything. I don't understand why the police weren't notified-- flashing a large knife in any other place would have resulted in an arrest, why is a dialysis unit any different?

As an administrator, make sure there is a zero tolerance policy in place and all procedures should be followed and your network informed of this incident

All units should have metal detectors and a member from the Homeland Security Team doing full body cavity searches on patients as they walk in the door.