Just curious what other hospitals policy is when an admitted patient is under a police hold, meaning they are to go into police custody/jail upon their discharge. Where I work it has been an issue of discontent among staff caring for these patients because many local police departments expect us to enforce the hold they have placed on the individual.
The majority of the time, we are instructed to avoid informing the patient of any discharge details. We are told to call the police department when we have a discharge date and time and they'll arrive to transport them to jail. We are also supposed to keep their street clothes out of the room.
Only twice have I seen the arresting police department arrange for an officer to stay with the patient 24/7 until discharge. Won't go into too much detail, but both of these people had allegedly committed very serious crimes which resulted in the injury/death of another person. However, we had another patient accused of the same type of crime and I never once saw the police. Also, I've never seen the police present for the many holds they place on people accused of less serious offenses.
I'm just wondering what or who determines when the police are required to stay with the patient as I've seen inconsistencies. I haven't seen anything official in our policy that addresses this issue. I think the hospital is taking on a huge liability by not requiring the police to enforce their holds.
I do not agree that it is my responsibility to stand guard for these people, who are often desperate to avoid going to jail. I will not chase them through the halls and out the door as they'd probably assault anyone getting in their way. I'm there to provide medical care, not to act as a free security guard for the police.
I have never heard this before! Prisoners at my hospital always have at least one, sometimes two, guards at all times. The guards break each other, have the keys to the handcuffs and give each other report.
I think it makes more sense to determine a patient's security/officer needs based on the specific patient, I've never found that whether or not they are a jail patient determines whether or not they pose a safety risk. There are jail patients who pose no threat to staff and there are non-jail patients who do.
I think it makes more sense to determine a patient's security/officer needs based on the specific patient, I've never found that whether or not they are a jail patient determines whether or not they pose a safety risk. There are jail patients who pose no threat to staff and there are non-jail patients who do.
I certainly agree that some prisoners pose no threat to staff safety while plenty of non-prisoners do but I think the state's policy of having a guard with hospitalized prisoners at all times is more because of a presumed flight risk than presumed risk to hospital staff. One of the imprisoned juveniles I cared for while I was in the hospital started faking seizures as his get out of jail free card. He actually had a history of epilepsy but had been seizure free for several years. Then he stole a car and went to juvie. Admitted with "increased seizures"- drug levels were therapeutic and onto continuous EEG he went. Several events captured, no seizure activity, shipped back to juvie. But he did get a 2 day break where he watched all the movies he wanted and ate all the food he wanted.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I have never heard this before! Prisoners at my hospital always have at least one, sometimes two, guards at all times. The guards break each other, have the keys to the handcuffs and give each other report.
That is scary!
Police holds are not "prisoners" They have not been charged they are "persons of interest" so to speak.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I certainly agree that some prisoners pose no threat to staff safety while plenty of non-prisoners do but I think the state's policy of having a guard with hospitalized prisoners at all times is more because of a presumed flight risk than presumed risk to hospital staff. One of the imprisoned juveniles I cared for while I was in the hospital started faking seizures as his get out of jail free card. He actually had a history of epilepsy but had been seizure free for several years. Then he stole a car and went to juvie. Admitted with "increased seizures"- drug levels were therapeutic and onto continuous EEG he went. Several events captured, no seizure activity, shipped back to juvie. But he did get a 2 day break where he watched all the movies he wanted and ate all the food he wanted.
Many of them c/o chest pain to get a few days out with pain meds.....LOL
Speaking that it is flight risk they are concerned about....I will not forget the "good" prisoner who had the best rapport with the guards.....until he climbed in the ceiling of the ED....steal another patients phone to call for his escape ride when the guards went to get the car and the other one unhand cuffed him to go ot the bathroom....
On my unit, we had the same issue. Used to be that it was passed down in report to call the police department when the patient is getting discharged so they can send officers to pick their prisoner or you mistakenly saw it tucked in the ED nurse's note while reviewing the patient charts. Then not too long ago I learned that the call I'd been making when it was my patient bound for jail was strictly a courtesy and I stopped making those calls. I feel like if the patient/prisoner is such a risk, they should have an officer or two present in their room for the duration of their hospital stay. One patient we had one time knew and the day of discharge, he wandered downstairs with an IV, tele box and all and disappeared home from the hospital.
Many of them c/o chest pain to get a few days out with pain meds.....LOL
Speaking that it is flight risk they are concerned about....I will not forget the "good" prisoner who had the best rapport with the guards.....until he climbed in the ceiling of the ED....steal another patients phone to call for his escape ride when the guards went to get the car and the other one unhand cuffed him to go ot the bathroom....
My spouse has an inmate who swallows things to mimic GI bleeds. He gets a few days out with pain meds.
Our inmates always had a guard in the room at all times and one ankle was chained to the bed. When I had to get them up to walk the hallways their feet were always shackled. They have nothing but time on their hands to think up ways to out smart you. I also use to work in a prison.
ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP
1 Article; 2,594 Posts
I have never heard this before! Prisoners at my hospital always have at least one, sometimes two, guards at all times. The guards break each other, have the keys to the handcuffs and give each other report.
That is scary!