Just been slapped on the bottom by a patient....

[TheStorySoFar]

As above. I'm a Nurse. Work in a GP surgery. I'm lodging an official complaint against this patient. Do I document it on his records, though?

I would imagine this would be a question best asked of your practice manager tbh. It's not an employment question, whether a patient assault or other ill-treatment of a member of staff is normally recorded on their medical file or somewhere else.

I would - I would log it factually, including any witnesses and what you said to him/her, and that you will be looking to take it further. I am an HCP and would write this in the continuation notes.

I would also appreciate it if I read this in a patient's notes so I could be aware before I visited them, as it would probably change what I did eg visit in pairs etc

I don't think it belongs on his notes... yet. You are making an accusation but surely that has to be investigated and a finding reached before it should appear on his notes?? I mean what if you just made it up? How would it be fair for any disgruntled HCP just to be able to formally record that without investigation?

(OP - I am not suggesting you are anything other than genuine, just playing devil's advocate).