Sounds like you need to consult with an attorney and countersue the patient. If you let your employer handle the situation, you'll end up getting fired and screwed.

If you spend the money to hire an attorney and let the patient know that they are going to be charged with among other things verbal abuse, assault, etc they may very well change their tune and decide to drop it all together.

What I would not do, is leave it in the hands of your manager to resolve. Management usually bends over backwards to appease patients at the expense of the nurse.

Protect your job, license and reputation, get an attorney. You might be able to find on sympathetic to your situation at:

The American Association of Nurse Attorneys:"TAANA serves as a resource network and support group for nurse attorneys and educates the public on matters of nursing, health care, and the law."
7794 Grow Drive Pensacola, FL 32514
Toll Free: 877-538-2262, Fax: 850/484-8762
Email: taana@puetzamc.com
http://www.taana.org/
************************************************** ****

Wish you luck, kindly keep us posted.

Andrew Lopez, RN
httop://www.nursefriendly.com