I can talk about this now since I no longer work for The VA (patient privacy act) and I still with hold names in confidentiality. 

 

I was at a semi local VA once. I had to deliver some paperwork to be signed, 4th floor.. After having the paperwork signed, I began walking towards the elevator to exit the building. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a vet in a wheel chair wheeling towards me (older gentleman). I looked at him and asked him if he needed any assistance onto the elevator. He didn't say anything, but he motioned in a positive response with his head and pointed at the elevator in a way to confirm that he needed assistance. So I gladly got behind his chair and wheeled him onto the elevator with me. I looked over at him and asked him to indicate which floor he needed to go to. He never talked, so I pointed at each floor button by process of elimination, looking for a sign from him. When I pointed to the first floor, he shook his head yes and acknowledged. That's the floor I was going to, so I pressed the button for floor 1. As soon as the elevator doors closed, this older gentleman in the wheel chair let out the most blood curdling scream I've ever heard. (The kind of scream that stays with you for the rest of your life). When he started to scream, he panicked and began bashing his own head as hard as he could against the metal and plastic arm rest of his chair. This poor man lost multiple teeth on his first head hit and blood began spraying from his face. I was covered in blood and trapped on the elevator with this man for what seemed like an eternity and we were only going from floor 4 to 1.. I tried to hold his head to keep him from doing any further damage to his well being, only to be unsuccessful. As soon as the elevator came to a stop on the first floor, the doors opened and I called for an immediate code blue/white (which is a medical, violent situation) and immediately, security on the first floor came rushing to my aid. The man was rushed in to receive immediate medical care and I was rushed into Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control. Thankfully, after some tests and hours of nerve racking stress, I was deemed fine..

 

PTSD.. 

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