Work place violence

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · Nov 5, 2009

I've worked places that have armed security and those who don't. Give me the ARMED, HUGE security dude anyday! Pt's usually back right down. The unarmed stand and watch the paranoid schizo pt beat up a visitor in the waiting room.... the ER doc who used to be a cop finally subdued the crazy guy and cops came and took him away! another place I was being triage nurse in a glassed in office. Lots of pts had to be skipped over because of multiple chest pain complaints. I took about 6 pts before I could triage the one complaining of fever and back pain. Her hubby came to the door several times and I explained the situation. Later he strolls by and flashes his gun hidden by his jacket. I told security thinking they would call the cops. Nah, just put your gun back in your car.... 'scuse me? This man threatened me!

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2009

A cop after all is too heavy to carry around.

A-ha! Someone who mirrors my own thoughts!

My only question is - do you mind detailing all the "items" in that photograph (besides the sweet lookin' M&P )?? I've honestly been looking for a 'good' "carry case" (i.e. some place secure to store my stuff when I'm not "carrying" and when I'm "on the road")

How can nurses who have CC permits adequately conceal their side arm? I know scrubs have lots of pockets, but none are big enough for a gun.

Who the heck uses their pocket - for/from ANY DRESS - as a 'holster' for a side arm??!! It's bloody awkward!

I'm a security officer at a level 1 trauma center and I carry a firearm, baton, oc spray and handcuffs.

Me likey! Can we have more of y'all around my hospital please? :)

In addition we also had tasers, however they decided to temporarily take them away pending a position statement from the AMA and the state hospital association.

I don't care what the AMA of the SHA say - I'm not too COMFORTABLE with the Taser. Rather than it being used as "an alternative to violent/fatal force" it has all too often become a method to "induce compliance through pain".\

The original idea of the "Taser" was that "rather than draw a lethal firearm, the officer could draw the Taser and debilitate the threat rather than shoot/wound/kill". The idea was that introducing the taser would be beneficial for both law-enforecement AND the general publuic.

However, history shows that more and more - tasers are used as a "compliance" tool. In other words - they are being used even in situations where there is NO VIOLENT ACT IN PROGRESS. A famous example would be the "don't taze me bro!" of Andrew Meyer. There's dozens of other examples where trhe tazer has been drawn and USED as a "compliance tool" - violating it's 'original reason to be introduced'.

We also wear level III body armor, so I definitely have the physical tools necessary to keep myself and the staff safe.

Good for ye. I agree!

At the same time I'm torn on the armed vs unarmed topic. We've had 1 incident on my shift in the last year where an officer drew down on a subject. Technically that draw was also a violation of our use of force policy and use of firearm policy as it was classified as a hostage incident and the policies clearly indicate that we are not allowed to ever draw our firearm in a hostage situation. Inside the hospital there are too many things to worry about when drawing and using my weapon such as the person in the next room, medical gas lines in the walls, o2 cylinders and when and where my bullet is actually going to stop after I fire it. Plus you also have to be alot more aware of weapon retention when 4 pointing a combative in ED. Normally, you can just go in take em down and strap em to the bed. But with the firearm it seems that once someone gets a glimpse of it, thats all they have on their mind. Most of us agree that 99.999999% of the time we would rather have a K-9 unit then firearms, but at the same time none of us want to be put in a position where we need our firearm and no longer have it.

I applaud your foresight when it comes to firearms in hospitals (not just how you described your RoE but also how you describe the perils and potential dangers of setting off a firearm in a hospital).

And given your response - can we please clone you and have y'all assigned to my ER? :)

cheers,

AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN · Nov 6, 2009

My hospital has a no-firearm policy as well. Horse manure. In this day and age, your policy can take a hike. My CC permit, the state, and the Constitution trump the policy. I really don't see the dingaling who stood up in the orientation meeting and spouted all the "I don't care if you have a permit, you leave the gun at home" nonsense convoying me to my car and following me home.

I recently dealt with a stalker, still am dealing with him, and EVERY person that I spoke to, (county cops, Staties, even my OM and the doc who's my boss) told me PUT A GUN IN YOUR CAR! (Dude was following me almost to home and he had even been seen at my place of work)

Now, I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that, if this nut is able to detain me on my way home, I can yell "Mr. Orientation Man, HELP" till I'm blue, and he won't be riding in to save the day.

AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN · Nov 6, 2009

Nice baby pics, Emergency! I like those. What model are the ones in the pic with the Aces?

EmergencyNrse · Nov 7, 2009

Nice baby pics, Emergency! I like those. What model are the ones in the pic with the Aces?

"Dead Man's Hand!" Aces & Eight's... They're a pair of SIG 228's.

The SIG 228 in 9mm is no longer imported in the U.S and are becoming harder to obtain. An excellent platform, I believe it's a more comfortable and smoother shooting frame than the SIG 226 (another excellent 9mm).

To be honest they're still a little heavier than the Glock, M&P or Springfield XD. With the double-stack high capacity magazines the SIG's still have the potential to pull the pants down to your ankles like a 1911. A good tactical belt is a must for under scrubs or under clothes.