Security on Mother Baby Unit

[kms6417]

Trying to get a feel for other inpatient OB hospital units out there. Is your unit locked? How do you screen visitors? Do your infants wear security devices and if so, how often to to drill for an abduction? Thanks for any insight on how your unit handles security on your floor.

[Kldrn9963, MSN]

We are a locked down unit using the HUGS security system. We monitor and screen all visitors. We drill once a year.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Hugs for security. Locked unit with 24/7 security outside to screen visitors. Drills are twice a year, fall and spring. Security does separate drills to keep their team up to date. Moms get a safety & security sheet explaining the Hugs tag as well as basic security measures - our distinct ID badge that designates Women's & Children's staff, etc.

[ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN]

Locked unit, but all the visitors have to do to get in is buzz the buzzer and give the name of who they are here to see. Unless a patient gives a list of people that are/aren't allowed to visit, we'll let them in if they can give us a name. We use HUGS for the newborns, I think they do a drill about once a year. We also don't allow people to carry infants in the hallway, they must be in the bassinet, which is both a fall/dropping precaution as well as a way to make it more obvious if someone is stealing a baby.

[haunani, BSN, RN]

We are a locked unit and use SafePlace tags for infant security. Visitors have to buzz at the door, provide the patient's name, and sign in to receive a wristband (and sign out when they leave). FOBs get a wristband that they wear for the duration of the newborn's stay, other visitors get a wristband based on the day they visit.

If a patient wants to limit visitors, they can become confidential, in which they receive a 4-digit code that visitors must supply when they buzz. If they don't give the number, we don't even acknowledge that the mother/baby are patients in the hospital.

We drill twice a year.

[BrandNewBabyNurse]

I did my preceptorship in L&D at a very busy hospital in my city, and surprisingly we were not a locked unit. Just came up off the elevators and walked out right in front of the main desk. We did require visitors to sign in and be wearing visitor stickers, and we used the HUGS system for security.