Security

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Do any or all or you have some sort of security at night in your buildings? We recently started locking the front door at 5pm and some of the families have flipped. We try to tell them that it is for the safety of their loved one and the staff but they seem overly put out for having to wait 90 seconds for someone to answer the door for them. We also instituted a badge program...anyone in the building signs in and is given a visitors badge. We ask them who they are planning to visit and remind them that they have to use the elevator and not the stairs. You would think that we were asking them to run naked through the hallways! Some are downright rude and throw the badge on the ground. Others roll their eyes and sigh. It's the rare few who smile and say they understand the need for increased security in this day and age.

Our visiting hours are 12 noon to 8 pm and we have the maintenance man check all the rooms and stairwells for unwanted visitors after visiting hours.

Why are they all so bent out of shape about a simple request?

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

Our doors are all key coded.Residents who are deemed competent enough and relatives all have the code.At night,we bolt the doors for extra security as the door code will be widely known in the community and you just don't know who is around nowadays.Anyone who requires access after 21.00 has to ring the door bell to be let in.

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Specializes in Vascular Access Nurse.

:mad:our doors are locked from 10pm-6:30am. during those times visitors can ring the doorbell to alert the unit staff of their presence. if the person is easily recognized on the camera, the staff can let them in by pressing a button on the unit. if staff is unsure, they can go downstairs to view the person directly or call our security guard. we have someone as security on 3-11 and 11-7 shift. we tell families that we prefer they visit between noon-8pm, since most residents have therapy in the morning, but they are allowed to visit 24/7 if they like. i also would think that families would be happy that we're trying to keep their loved ones safe!

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

It's hard for a lot of people to accept change. Perhaps the increased security at your facility is scarey to them because it forces them to realize that their world is not as safe as they want to believe.

I work in a facility with extensive, well trained security and feel very safe.

Unfortunately there is an ever increasing need for security. There have been several episodes of abuse against our staff by families and patients in the last year.

They will just have to get used to this because it is only going to get worse, not better.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

We have no security in the building. Doors are locked between 9pm-6am and visitors have to ring the door bell during those hours.

Sometimes have a hard time convincing the staff to lock up which I have never understood. I've been in my building alot of years and have seen some really crazy stuff - from peeping toms to drug seekers (thankfully friendly and good natured) roaming in to see what we would sell them, from police chasing an escapie right down our hallway and out the back door with guns drawn. All of this in our midwest upper middle class/low crime rate town. Lock the damn doors for goodness sakes - the world is crazy out there.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

My current workplace has no security. While the posted visiting hours are 11am to 8pm, these hours are never enforced. Some visitors even sleep in the rooms all night. If the nurses even dare to enforce the visiting hours, we will be admonished by the administrator for practicing "bad customer service."

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Our visiting hours are 12 noon to 8 pm.....

Why are they all so bent out of shape about a simple request?

That right there could be the reason. I would be a bit put out if I was told I could visit until 8 and gthen had to go through all this rigamorole.

Now, if I showed up after visiting hours and was put through all this. I would certainly appreciate the level of security for my loved one.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I hardly think ringing a door bell and signing a guest book is 'rigamarole'. And if it is....there were 4 shootings within 5 blocks of the building last month. If it's an inconvenience to come visit then stay home. At least I know I'm keeping my residents and staff members as safe as I can.

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Specializes in nursing home care.

We have key codes known by competent residents and relatives. Night shift bolt the door too!

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Our doors automatically lock at 7pm. Yes, some families freak out probably because they feel like a right is being taken away from them. In this day and age, you can never be too careful. We implemented the auto-lock doors after we found a drunk man hiding underneath the receptionist desk talking on the phone! He was not a relative too anyone there. This is dangerous, and if families want their loved ones and the people who care for them to be safe, then they will have to deal with the added 90 seconds of inconvenience. I figure it's a small price for safety.

:idea:

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Specializes in Geriatrics, WCC.

Due in part to our Disaster plan, we have two sign-in books at the front receptionist desk. One for visitors to sign-in and one for Volunteers to. This allows us to know who is in the building at all times in event of a fire, etc.

The front door is locked between the hours of 8PM and 7AM when there is not a receptionist at the front desk. Then a person must ring a buzzer to be let in. We have 4 cameras on the entrances to the building that allow someone to be buzzed in those doors. This includes the handicap entrance, kitchen delivery, and general delivery.

All staff have a key card to swipe and gain entrance during off hours.

Visitors are welcome at any time and we do not have limitations on those.

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I hardly think ringing a door bell and signing a guest book is 'rigamarole'. And if it is....there were 4 shootings within 5 blocks of the building last month. If it's an inconvenience to come visit then stay home. At least I know I'm keeping my residents and staff members as safe as I can.

Cape Cod - one LTC I worked at decided that we should lock the doors at noc. So at the appointed time, the CNA and I went around and locked them - we could not, tho get the front inside door locked - it was so warped and out of line that no matter what we did, it wouldn't close properly.

I left a note for the administrator telling her about it. I also told her it was OK - we smeared Vasoline on the floor in front of the door so that anyone sneaking in would slip and fall. They'd probably break their hip, then we'd get another patient!!;);)

Not everyone 'gets' my sense of humor.:lol2:

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