Security in the ED

[TexNurse]

I am trying to find out how security works in other ED. We worked in a locked ED- someone has to let patients/visitors in the door. Only 2 are really used at night- the EMS door and the locked door from the waiting room to the main ED. All employees have to badge in to get in. We have 2 security officers. 1 for the waiting room, and one in the main ED. Every person that walks in the ED waiting room comes directly to the triage window. The triage nurse stops whatever she is doing, speaks to the person at the window, and either signs them in to see a Dr., sends them immediately to the back, directs them to a patients room in the back (asks them who they want to see, is there anyone else in the room with the patient, sorry- you can't take the cell phone, drink, outside food to the room, opens the locked door), directs them to the security guard in the corner so they can get in the main hospital, ect.

All of the patient/visitor control takes a lot of time away from the patient you are attempting to triage.

So does anyone have any ideas? Does anyone have a security officer posted at the main door to take care of visitors, etc.? Does anyone else have armed security officers in the main ED? What are their roles? Do you feel safe?

We are attempting to make some changes to make things work smoothly- and have the SECURITY officers actually secure the place.

Any ideas? Suggestions? Thanks in advance!

[KaroSnowQueen, RN]

Our ER has a security desk directly next to the sliding doors that open to the public doors. All doors leading out of the hospital can be opened to the outside, but once you're out the only way in is thru those doors by the security.

The doors into the ER are locked. The nurses working there know a code to punch to get in, everyone else has to wait for the security to open the door from their desk. Nurses coming on shift or back from break have to wait by the doors going into the hospital from ER for security to punch them in.

I have never seen less than 3 of them at a time on duty. I don't know if they have guns, know they carry clubs.

[OO7Trauma]

My hospital may as well have no security at all. The few "guards" that we have are contracted employees that are instructed not to touch anyone. They spend their day telling me and others where not to park. Mind you, I work in a inner city hospital. I too have taken knives and weapons from patients. One time I took a loaded 357 Magnum from a patient. Another time I was chased by a "gentleman" with a knive". Due to police cut backs in the area, we are lucky if we get the police to arrive within an hour. Our pleas to higher management fall on deaf ears. Someone is going to have to be killed before anything is done. All of this in the name of public perception.

[sandgroper]

Our ED is locked at night and on weekends with a combination lock on each of the three entrances. Triage is protected by a perspex screen. The waiting room is under video surveillance so we don't have to go to triage with out looking first.

Our security staff are drawn from the orderlies and maintenance staff. We have a minimum two nurses in attendance at all times.

All this was instituted from a perceived threat, it hasn't been tested yet. The community is getting larger and crime is increasing, so I guess it won't be all that long before it is.

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I worked at an inner city hospitals and always had at least 2 armed guards at all time with automatic locking doors in case of wild psyco clients.

renerian

[MandyInMS]

Originally posted by NightMoonRN

Our nightly {soon to retire} maintenance man is our security "officer". He is armed with a motorola radio.

LOL:chuckle ..... I hear ya NightMoon...the night gaurd we had on last night was heavily armed with his motorola as well..do I feel safe? noooooo..this poor old fellow looked to be about 70ish and probably weighed 90 pds soaking wet...if I really NEEDED help I'd call another nurse..that's pretty sad :/

[catchup82]

i find it totally mind blowing. we have a very good security staff which located in our er and most often staffed well. but.....we are getting a security officer in the waiting room because too many 'good' patients complain about the the 'bad' patients in the waiting room.......funny how that happened right after a big dog at the hospital was in the waiting room late one night when one of our frequent flyers was jacking off.......life is odd sometimes. i wonder if we would be getting a security guard for the waiting room if the big dog wasnn't there that night. thank god he didn't enjoy it,,,,,,cuz he surely enjoys screwing around with the nursing staffing ratio's!