Brisbane nurse uses jiu-jitsu to take down abusive, violent patient

A nurse in Brisbane, Australia, demonstrated the effectiveness of his jiu-jitsu training when he subdued a violent patient in the emergency department of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. The incident, which occurred in October 2024, was captured on video and has since gone viral.

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In a stroke of genius, he decided he wanted a cuddle. Safe to say, it didn’t work out the way he expected.

The footage shows nurse Daniel Nelson escorting a man, identified as an intoxicated patient, out of the hospital. The man began spitting, abusing staff, and then threw an object at Nelson before charging back and attempting to punch him. Nelson, who has trained in jiu-jitsu for over a decade, quickly wrestled the man to the ground and restrained him until security personnel arrived.

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This is what many people never see.

Nelson posted the video online on July 29 to raise awareness about the pervasive issue of violence against healthcare workers. The video had garnered over 1.5 million views by August 4. He noted that the patient had been asked to leave after abusing staff. Nelson, with a touch of dark humor, quipped that the patient "decided he wanted a cuddle," which did not end as expected.

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Violence against healthcare workers isn’t ‘just part of the job’. It’s unacceptable, and alcohol is no excuse.

This incident underscores a significant problem in healthcare settings worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 60% of healthcare workers globally experience workplace violence. Verbal abuse is common, reported by 58% of workers, followed by threats (33%) and sexual harassment (12%). Physical attacks also occur, with 8% to 38% of health workers experiencing them during their careers. Nurses and emergency department staff are particularly at risk. In Singapore, a 2023 survey revealed that over two-thirds of healthcare workers had experienced or witnessed abuse or harassment in the preceding year, with about a third encountering it weekly.

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To all my colleagues who continue to show up despite this sort of behaviour: I see you, and I appreciate what you do every day.