A Queensland nurse has shared CCTV footage of the moment he was forced to defend himself against a violent patient in the emergency department at the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital.
The footage, which was only recently shared, was taken in October 2024.
At 2 a.m., registered nurses Daniel Nelson can be seen walking a man out, only for the man to turn around, throw something, and then strike at him.
Nelson then grapples the man and uses a hip throw to flip the man to the floor. He then maneuvers and puts him in a chokehold until security arrive.
“This is what many people never see,” Nelson wrote on Facebook.
“I was a victim of assault by an intoxicated patient in an area where there (was) no visibility from staff or security.”
Nelson said the man in the video had been spitting on the floor, abusing staff, and “generally behaving like an absolute grub” before being asked to leave.
The nurse, who was on a 12-month placement at the time, guided the man out, only to be attacked.
“I don’t think he anticipated the nurse having an obsession with jiu jitsu for over 10 years,” Nelson said.
“I laughed about it then and now because I was able to defend myself. But that’s not the point.
“What if he’d picked a nurse half my size? A new graduate? A student? Someone who simply couldn’t defend themselves?”
Nelson said no healthcare worker goes to work expecting to be assaulted, because they are there to help people.
“Violence against healthcare workers isn’t ‘just part of the job,’” he said.
“It’s unacceptable. Alcohol is no excuse.”
Nelson said he hoped the footage would be shared to help people understand the physical danger facing healthcare workers.
Health Service Taking Matter Seriously
A Metro North Health spokesperson told The Epoch Times the hospital understood the impact of workplace violence.
“No healthcare employee deserves to be abused or assaulted at work,” he said.
“As part of our commitment to preventing instances of occupational violence against staff, we have a number of strategies in place including training, security, and a focus on increased reporting.
“As a health service, we are continually looking at how we can reduce instances of workplace abuse and aggression. We are committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for staff, patients and visitors alike.”
Assaults on Health Workers Rise
Nelson’s video comes as the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation released new data showing a steady increase in violent attacks on health workers.
They reveal assault-related hospitalisations rose from 29 in 2015-16, to 126 in 2024-25.
“This should not be a wake-up call, because nurses and their colleagues have been sounding the alarm about this for years,” ACN Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Zeitz said.
“Health services need to act now to rein in this epidemic of occupational violence.”
