Weapons on Site

I work in the VA system, our officers carry guns but must remove the clip(bullets) before entering the buildings & dealing with patients.

Where I've worked, officers who bring patients to the units lock their weapons in a lock box in the emergency department before coming into the units. However, if we call them for help in an intense situation, they bring their weapons and use them if needed (although that hasn't happened since I've been here--the using).

Thank you. I forgot that a psych unit at our hospital has a lock box, but officer's carry their weapons in the ED. Kinda concerns me. -A

I'm talking about a psych hospital when I say the officers lock their guns in a lock box. In the general hospital I used to work in, no one locked their weapons anywhere. Security carried guns too.

I'm in favor of armed nurses in the ED. (A nice little pearl handled, stainless steel .38, in a white leather holster, to match the uniform. It would have made me feel safer.)

I once tried to have officers leave their guns outside my psych unit. They said no. That ended the discussion. Having a gun tends to do that.

Tasers are good. Leaves those who are out of control incapacitated for a short term without any long term side effects.

Most hospitals do have policies regarding loaded guns in ther facility. If this policy is ignored, or the facility isn't diligent about following the policy they are liable for any damages that may occour to staff, visitors or pts.

Tasers are good. Leaves those who are out of control incapacitated for a short term without any long term side effects.

Most hospitals do have policies regarding loaded guns in ther facility. If this policy is ignored, or the facility isn't diligent about following the policy they are liable for any damages that may occour to staff, visitors or pts.

We USED to have a policy against p.o.'s having guns inside the hospital (especially psych). That policy is no more and it is scary...Often wish we had metal detectors at our doors. Ah well, wishful thinking, I wonder how much a metal detector costs these days. Wish I held a patent for a good one.:roll

We have a locked box outside of our unit and no one is permitted to carry weapons inside.

I really can't imagine doing it any other way because of the potential for just the kind of circumstances you described. I'm so sorry to hear about it.

I echo this.

I think that the decision to not bring a weapon into any facility rests with the police officer involved. He/she is the person responsible. Most likely the policy of the police department, not that of the facility, is the determining factor. Ingeneral terms it would be irresponsible for a police officer to disarm before entering a potentially dangerous situation.

No weapons, guns of any sort. All locked outside of the building in a lockbox. However, they do bring their hand-cuffs & shackles when they have to take an extremely out of control patient to another facility. Often at times I wish they allowed our milieu staff to carry tasers due to the violent behavior of some of the adolescents I work with. It has become so unsafe the past 6-7 months, that I think I need to throw in the towel & move on. Going to work & wondering...if you are going to have enough staff, let alone MALE staff, can really break/make your shift. What is really bad, is that the kids KNOW...they KNOW they can act out/fight/riot depending what male staff are on shift and how many males are on for the shift. Sad, isn't it. Sorry, needed to vent.