When they injure you

I had a patient, I'll call "Felipe". His primary language is Spanish but he speaks English as well. I heard mostly English until he unexpectedly got ticked off and we unwillingly had to reapply soft restraints on his hands so that he didn't pull out his suprapubic catheter and IV. He nearly succeeded at both. Even on a 1:1 observation. The man was strong for an "advanced age" gentleman. Picture this: two nurses and two techs holding down a man who needed his IV changed after he dislodged it from constant picking. The IV nurse was trying to hold his hand because the only good vein was near his thumb. The tech let go for a second and he grabbed her finger, nearly bending it backwards to the breaking point. (I had suffered the same near-breakage just a few minutes earlier and was surprised that she hadn't learned from my yowling in pain). The IV was finally placed and everyone was kind enough to hold onto my dear swearing-in-spanish rail jumper until I could safely push Haldol. We all breathed a sigh of relief...until it became apparent that the wonder drug was wonderless. He agreed to take some pain medication (from repeatedly attempting to d/c the catheter by the old yank and pull method). I brought the pill in a cup. He was docile. He shook his head affirmatively that he would, indeed, take the medication to relieve his pain (and hopefully the situation). Instead, as I handed him the cup, he grabbed my hand and tried to bite my fingers off. I managed to wrestle my hand back but not before he purposefully and knowingly dug his fingernails into my hands. Through the gloves. Blood seeped all over the gloves inside and out. The pill had to be wasted. And he continued to screech in a language in which, despite not knowing exactly what he said, made it clear he was swearing violently at us. After turning the lights down and asking all to leave him be and the observer to whisper, he finally settled down. Not too long after, he was again smiling and calling me "Bella" or "Chicca" when I entered the room. All's well that ends well, even if the nurse is one finger short of a ten.