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Discussion

safety

I am just curious what measures your hospitals have in place to keep you as RNs safe? Bullet prof glass, sheriffs, extra security at bedside for disruptive/abusive pts etc. Also what happens if you were to get a call about a shooter coming to gun down ER staff, what does hospital, departmental, management do?

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    • Featured Replies

    Someone with intent to "gun down" ER staff probably won't call ahead and announce it ... ;)

    Security measures vary widely from hospital to hospital -- it's really impossible to generalize.

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    • Author

    Its not just that but then he really did come in and bc he didnt have a gun we were told we had to see him. Ha oh well. The hospital I work at now has really bad safety practices in place and we are an inner city hospital where I am sure a good number have a gun on them. We were looking at ways to improve the safety for staff because there is an increase in violence and management has also told RNs to stop reporting incidents on our computer reporting system bc Jcaho will see them. :yes:

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    • Experts

    Hmm - I worked level one trauma center in an inner city for 10 years. In IL, its a felony to threaten, strike, accost, bully etc any healthcare worker. Our hospital was extremely supportive of staff filing police reports.

    As to actual security - we had unarmed guards in the ER (2-3 at all times). Police were but a phone call and 30 seconds away and since it is a big ER (100,000 plus visits/year), there were frequent visits by police anyway so many times the police were already there.

    Also, there is a lock down system with only staff having access to the "back" and you have to use your badge to swipe entrance for everywhere.

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    Patients/visitors that come through the "front door" have to pass through a metal detector, although pt's brought in by medics do not.

    We have security on staff with panic buttons discreetly positioned though out the department. Not sure how bullet proof glass will help.

    If someone who came in by medic did bring a gun with them, and I discovered it, I would, for many reasons, chart that it was found and confiscated by security.

    Final point...if someone 'shows up,' they must be seen. Gun will be taken away before they are seen, but law is, they must evaluated by a doctor.

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    • Author

    since posting this last night I am not suprised we actually had a shooter with a gun show up to finish off a rival gang member who was shot in the head. Waiting room went crazy, our elderly people litteraly got trampled, many of those waiting left without being seen. Our hospital is a joke because this morning we were told that they follow all the policies and proceedures that dont exist!!! We simply called 911. Our security gaurds are 60-70yrs old retired police and I could run further than them. That is our only safety at our triage desk. Thinking of calling media because other ERs in our city have sheriffs with riffles at the desk and bullet proff glass.

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    • Experts

    While I appreciate your passion and safety is very important. Going to the media while it might help your co-workers obtain a safe environment....you will probably end up looking for a job. Hospitals don't like whistle blowers. Are you Union? Go to your union rep. You could also make an anonymous report to OSHA and The Joint Commission. But if you cause rough waters be prepaired for the consequences.

    Is this right? no. Does it happen? Yes.

    http://www.jointcommission.org/report_a_complaint.aspx

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