I've (32F) been a CNA since April of last year. I work in a nursing home for psych patients in the southern US. Yesterday morning, after passing breakfast trays, I caught a patient (let's call them L) from another hall snooping around in one of my patients rooms. I went in saying, “No, L, this isn't your room,” and they turned to me and said, “Oh, you're just a good Samaritan, aren't you?” I responded with, “Yes, ma'am,” just trying to keep things pleasant.
So I'm trying to guide our most mentally unstable patient out of the room, and they notice another patients coke-a-cola can, unopened, on their tray. L takes it and I say, “No L, that doesn't belong to you–” and L turns around and starts hitting me over the head with this full, unopened can of soda. L got me at least one time on the back of my head, and I'm screaming at them to stop, and they eventually just grab the can and run on down back to their side of the building.
I stepped out of the room, holding my head and crying. I felt sick, dizzy, and I sat down right away. My coworker found me, and told me to go get checked out. The admin came in at this time, too, and told me to go to the urgent care center.
While I was waiting, one of the other managers came by and asked me if I wanted to press charges against the resident. I said yes, absolutely. I get checked out a few minutes later, then walk back to the facility (both are in kind of a strip center).
I fill out the proper paperwork, and an officer comes by and takes my statement. He basically says not much will be done since the resident in question isn't mentally stable.
Here's the kicker, though. The manager who came to ask me about pressing charges walked passed my coworker and said, “I better go check on ConfidentPea, try to get her not to sue!” I was only informed of sueing someone where it wouldn't go anywhere. Nothing was said about the company in question.
Do I have a leg to stand on? I live in a state where Medical MJ is legal, and my job honestly doesn't care about that, but they can't do workers comp. Another manager offered to pay for whatever medical charges would be sent, so that's nice. I'm just not sure what to do, other than change careers. I'm so done.
TL;DR: crazy patient hit me in the head with an unopened soda can, I presses charges against them, I'm wondering if I should press charges against the facility in question.