please HELP. Gang related questions

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jan 13, 2018

The correct answer IS to follow the policy; however, spend some time thinking about what that policy might be. Offer your thoughts- and then say "But I'm sure you have a policy in place and that would guide my actions."

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jan 13, 2018

Hi
i have a job interview in a few days and the hospital is in a high crime area. Two of the interview questions were:-
1. what would you do, if a gang member came to the ward and wants to disrupt the session?
2. what would you do, if a gang member came to your ward looking for another gang member from a rival gang?

This is easy. If an employer asked these questions, I would answer "Thank you for your time, but I don't feel comfortable working in a hospital that these scenarios would be routine enough to ask me these questions."

SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN · Jan 15, 2018

I might ask them what measures have they taken to insure gang members aren't roaming through their hospital asking nurses such questions? Your a nurse not a cop. It sounds like they need more of a security / police presence. Keep looking for another job. This one sounds like a loser.

Just out of curiosity, how are you to identify potential gang members? Do they wear a sign identifying themselves as gang members? For example, if a person comes up to you in the hallway asking where patient so & so is to visit them do you deny this information based upon their appearance? Are you supposed to know the motivation of this visit even if they are a gang member?

allnurses Guide · Jan 15, 2018

I worked at a hospital where we somewhat routinely got gang members as patients. We made all of them no-info patients and moved their room every few days because it wasn't uncommon for the rival gang to come in (or try to) looking to "finish the job". It was....interesting.

If asked that in an interview, I would answer honestly. "That is a situation I have no exposure to and am not at all familiar with. I am good in a crisis and can keep a level head, but any answer I give you would be purely conjecture. Do you offer your employees training on how to best handle this type of situation?"

Oldmahubbard · Jan 15, 2018

I worked for many years in a forensic psych hospital. We admitted inmates from all over the state, and there were rival gang members in the building, almost all the time.

We had relatively little trouble. We had regular (and good) trainings on the topic, and a couple of our security supervisors became experts on the subject.

When we were receiving a high level gang member from a prison as a patient, we would be notified. We would let the patient know immediately who was the boss in this house, to use their language. It was fairly effective.

Fortunately, very few of the men that were truly mentally ill (and needed to be there) were high level gang members. The others were moved quickly along for discharge.

Patients were handled on a case by case basis. The gang issues required expertise and coordination among professionals.

This was all in a secure environment, with well established protocols, and appropriate staff.

Given the amount effort involved, I question how any nurse in a civilian hospital could possibly know (in the middle of her hectic work day, with everything else that has to be handled) who are the gang members, and what to do if they are dangerous or disruptive?

Call the police? Obviously.

Hopefully, there is something else in place as well.