Concealed Carry...as a nurse?

Nurses Activism

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  1. Do you have a concealed carry license?

    • 148
      Yes, although it stays in the car/home while at work.
    • 68
      Yes, it is always on me no matter where I am.
    • 104
      No, I do not see the need.

227 members have participated

With the current news over gun control and gun rights legislation being pushed through Congress as a result of the tragedies of Aurora, CO, Newtown, CT and the others like them, the thought of concealed carry among healthcare workers has got my attention peaked. Recently, another Allnurses member started a thread (up to 22 pages presently) about what nurses can do as a result of these horrific events.

This post is not meant to reflect my personal stance on this issue, although I can inform that I am not a CCL holder (however interested), nor is it meant to be a bashing session from either side, but I am interested in seeing how many individuals have their concealed carry license, and if they carry while they are at work (and, yes I am well aware of the legal stance healthcare facilities take as being gun free zones)?

I, also, am aware of some of our members being both nurses and current/former law enforcement officers, so what is your take on this issue?

More guns will never be a solution to the gun problem.

worked in this situation.

Armed guard disarmed teen in Atlanta school shooting, says police chief | The Salt Lake Tribune

0 Votes
Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

Pa, please don't stereotype. Not attractive at all. Don't knock my state till you come visit.

And mental health issues aside, when I chose to work here, my job description didn't include being a target or a sitting duck.

If you come at me with the intent to harm, maim, or kill...pardon me if I issue a preemptive strike. Patient status notwithstanding.

0 Votes
Specializes in Wilderness Medicine, ICU, Adult Ed..
I think the best thing that your employer should do is hire a safety officer (a vet to give them a job and put their skills to good use as a civilian) to be on-site should any threats occur. I think it's absurd you would bring a gun to work and even think of killing a patient. You work in pain management which is one of the most difficult areas of healthcare and those patients may have some mental health issues, etc. But you choose to work there and work to care for these patients. Alabama is a very racist crazy state so I am not surprised that this is tolerated there.

Oh Pa715,you were doing so well and your post was so good that my finger was hovering over the "Like" button, all ready to give you a kudo, when you spoiled it with that bigoted, elietist slur against our colleagues and fellow citizens in Alabama. How sad.

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Specializes in Wilderness Medicine, ICU, Adult Ed..

I would not carry a side arm on duty. In my mind, being armed conflicts with my role as a nurse. However, back when I worked night shift in Big County Medical Center in a very rough part of the city, I came to work with a .45 calibre pistol in a holster clipped onto my scrub pants. I made the long walk throuh the dark and dangerous alley that was the only route from the parking lot to the rear entrence (nobody walked the streets to to the main entrance; way to dangerous!)

Once in the hospital I went to the locker room, secured my weapon in a steel locker, and pad locked it. I never brought it into any patient care area, nor did I want to (or feel any need to). The interesting thing was finding out how many techs, nurses, an doctors were doing the same thing. And, we need not go into how many EMTs and paramedics carry on duty..

All these ordinary people carrying side arms year after year, and never, not even once was there a single accidental discharge or exchange of fire in that hospital. The take home message: responsible, law abiding citizens can handle guns safely and do not go around shooting each other when they do.

0 Votes

I do not carry a weapon. I have no problem with people who choose to doing so. I do believe they should be criminally and civilly liable for any crime that is committed with a weapon they own. The only times in my life I have been threatened by weapons it was by off duty law enforcement who thought they had been taken advantage of. I know unfortunately that many people do not store their weapons securely including law enforcemt which I have witnessed myself. I have spent great periods of my life working in the inner city and other poor areas. When I was younger collecting money and later on performing physical exams. People have had words with me and I chose to move on. I have had attempted robberies and chose not to surrender. I use common sense and when I see trouble brewing I seek safe harbor. Not every person knows their limits or has a feel for situations so I dont recoment anyone necessarily live their life like I have. But I do choose not to live in fear.

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Specializes in Wilderness Medicine, ICU, Adult Ed..

Billybob, by going unarmed you are exercising your right to make your own decission on this issue, which is, I am confident, the best choice for you. I also ageee with you that the best defensive weapons are an alert attitude and good sence. A martial arts instructor once suggested that the most powerful fighting system in the world is useing one's intellegence to make sure that, if a fight starts, you are not thrre.

0 Votes
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I do not carry a weapon. I have no problem with people who choose to doing so. I do believe they should be criminally and civilly liable for any crime that is committed with a weapon they own. The only times in my life I have been threatened by weapons it was by off duty law enforcement who thought they had been taken advantage of. I know unfortunately that many people do not store their weapons securely including law enforcemt which I have witnessed myself. I have spent great periods of my life working in the inner city and other poor areas. When I was younger collecting money and later on performing physical exams. People have had words with me and I chose to move on. I have had attempted robberies and chose not to surrender. I use common sense and when I see trouble brewing I seek safe harbor. Not every person knows their limits or has a feel for situations so I dont recoment anyone necessarily live their life like I have. But I do choose not to live in fear.

^ In total agreement billybob...We do have an ultimate choice...I choose not to live in fear, just remain assertive, and a great heap of common sense.

0 Votes
Specializes in Peds ED, Peds Stem Cell Transplant, Peds.

The way the poll is worded, it is asking if the license is always on me, so I said yes, but no I don't carry a weapon 24/7

0 Votes
Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

Thank you all for your comments on the issue at hand. It appears like many have a strong stance in one direction or another. My personal opinion is that you should have a right to defend yourself with any and all means necessary. If you come into my home at night expecting to inflict harm on me or my family, expect a fight. I have the same thought at work, if you come to inflict harm on me or another who is there, expect a fight. I do not have a CCW/CCL but am proficient with firearms. My employer is having discussions on violence against healthcare workers at this time, and although nothing is being done to help curb violence, their statements reflect many of what has been said here. Statements such as "The police are only minutes away", "How could you think of causing harm to a patient", "We took an oath to do good", and "It is not our job" have all been mentioned here, but my opinion is...why wait those few minutes for someone else to do something (whether a firearm is involved or not) when you are already there is obscene. And, regarding law enforcement, why not train to the same level and obtain peace officer certification so you can be the one that is ready?

As a male nurse in an Emergency Department, I can not think of how many times others have yelled out for me to come in to "make a presence" because of fear. I have nothing more than anyone else to do anything with, and please do not get me started on the idea of CPI. What a crock! When law enforcement are minutes away, so much can happen in that time frame. Ever try doing chest compressions for 2 long and laborious minutes? I am sure the request for someone to take over was soon after! Same goes for violence against us in the healthcare sector. I did take an oath to do good and do no harm, very true, but I did not take an oath that says I will sit back when someone is dying and I am too tired to do chest compressions, so why are we expected to lie down when our safety is in jeopardy. Having the right tools to do the job is important. Would an ICU nurse abandon her stethoscope because she may not need it that day? Of course not.

The battle between good and evil will ensue for years to come, but this nation fought a long hard battle and left our mother country because of rights being abolished. Many now are willing to throw the towel in because of a utopia that may be down the road. That utopia is not going to happen, but the pilgrims knew that, and brought along appropriate tools and knowledge to defend their new found land.

Mental health issues need better addressing and more treatment needs to be available for those who have been affected by various crimes. Criminals will still and always will be criminals. Cain killed his brother Abel without a gun and Jesus Christ was killed without one, too. There will always be crime, and guns are not the issue. Are they part of the issue? Maybe. They are as much a part of the issue as pencils are too poor writers, reading glasses are to poor readers, cars to drunk drivers, hammers to poor carpenters, and spoons to poor diet choices.

Once again, it is a matter of perspective. Crime will continue. Mental Health disorders will continue to remain. The real solution...for individuals to look deep inside themselves and seek personal revival from Jesus Christ. Freedom in Christ is all we need, but even Christ had 12 disciples (body guards) who were with him at all times.

0 Votes
Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
Alabama is a very racist crazy state so I am not surprised that this is tolerated there.

Well that's extremely relevant to this conversation. :eyeroll

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Specializes in Emergency, Med-Surg, Progressive Care.
The real solution...for individuals to look deep inside themselves and seek personal revival from Jesus Christ. Freedom in Christ is all we need, but even Christ had 12 disciples (body guards) who were with him at all times.

I own a firearm (and sometimes carry) and am not a Christian. I have yet to feel the impulse to harm another human being who has made no threats against me. This is not a religious issue whatsoever. Let's agree to not discuss this further, since it seems like every thread that gets too deep into religion gets closed (probably somewhat in part due to me). Let's keep this about our natural right to defend ourselves, about which I vehemently agree with you.

0 Votes
Specializes in CTICU.

Right now I'm a pre-nursing student, but once I start up in nursing school and I'm in clinicals, I have put some serious thought into getting a permit to keep it in the car. Call me over-cautious, but while wearing scrubs for some reason I feel like a target- on top of just being a young female. Getting out late and you're not carpooling, going to your car can be really scary!

It's something worth considering, to me. I wouldn't carry in the hospital though, too dangerous to me.

0 Votes
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