Suggestions for new hospital security officer?

[Gauss44]

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Okay, title is not 100% accurate, but oversimplified. I just got hired to work on a mental health wing, and part of my job description is helping take down aggressive patients. In the past, I've read that others on this forum have worked in hospital security, and I was wondering if you have any suggestions for a new person?

The one thing that immediately comes to mind is that if I have to take down a super strong big guy, it will definitely be with lots of help, and I will carefully watch any arms, etc. that I am not controlling so they don't come around and hit me. Let me know if you can think of any other good advice. Thanks in advance.

 

[mcatjelly]

I'm a psych tech at a psychiatric facility and am often involved in crisis interventions requiring physical and mechanical restraints. Our security officers are actually not allowed to intervene in these situations.

My words of advice: think of your job description in terms other than "taking down aggressive patients". Those patients who pose a safety risk to others are (generally) aggressive because they legitimately think they're in danger and need to protect themselves, not because they're intentionally trying to hurt you. So be cognizant of how you approach and talk to a patient who is acutely distressed; being Macho Man could end up aggravating them and heightening their aggressive response, and you don't want to become a traumatic experience for someone. Of course, your safety is your number one concern, so you gotta do what you gotta do; but gentle words and acknowledging someone's dignity can go a long way.

 

[Gauss44]

I'm a psych tech at a psychiatric facility and am often involved in crisis interventions requiring physical and mechanical restraints. Our security officers are actually not allowed to intervene in these situations.

My words of advice: think of your job description in terms other than "taking down aggressive patients". Those patients who pose a safety risk to others are (generally) aggressive because they legitimately think they're in danger and need to protect themselves, not because they're intentionally trying to hurt you. So be cognizant of how you approach and talk to a patient who is acutely distressed; being Macho Man could end up aggravating them and heightening their aggressive response, and you don't want to become a traumatic experience for someone. Of course, your safety is your number one concern, so you gotta do what you gotta do; but gentle words and acknowledging someone's dignity can go a long way.

Thank you for the wise words. This makes sense and I will take it into consideration in my interactions on the unit.

 

[Cawolf]

Does your job training not include a CPI or MAB course? These courses should provide basic deescalation techniques and cover simple physical controls.

 

[flatbear]

Don't forget to treat all of your patients as human beings, even if they are under mental health restrictions. never lose sight of that.

 

[Fedekz]

Thank you for the wise words. This makes sense and I will take it into consideration in my interactions on the unit.

I disagree with the bolded above from mcatjelly's post. I'm a mental health counselor in a involuntary inpatient psychiatric hospital that is state run, probably 70% of times I've been "attacked" or had a physical altercation has been over something they didn't necessarily feel threatened by. Last week one patient slept through the designated time we have snacks available. When he woke up and looked at the clock and realized he missed it by 5 hours he tried to jump over the nurses station to attack us. And no, he doesn't, and has never had any A/V hallucinations. He just said he was pissed he missed snacks. My other job is a police officer, so it's not because I look like an easy target or have poor situational awareness either.

 

[image187]

I disagree with the bolded above from mcatjelly's post. I'm a mental health counselor in a involuntary inpatient psychiatric hospital that is state run, probably 70% of times I've been "attacked" or had a physical altercation has been over something they didn't necessarily feel threatened by. Last week one patient slept through the designated time we have snacks available. When he woke up and looked at the clock and realized he missed it by 5 hours he tried to jump over the nurses station to attack us. And no, he doesn't, and has never had any A/V hallucinations. He just said he was pissed he missed snacks. My other job is a police officer, so it's not because I look like an easy target or have poor situational awareness either.

Remember, aggression and hostility are common symptoms for patients with chronic psychotic disorders, who make up most of the people in state run psychiatric hospitals.

 

[Gauss44]

Does your job training not include a CPI or MAB course? These courses should provide basic deescalation techniques and cover simple physical controls.

Yeah, we got a short CPI class. I suspect the techniques will work most of the time. The main exception that I can think of would be if one of my coworkers let go of an arm or something, which could probably come right over and whack someone else.

 

[Gauss44]

Don't forget to treat all of your patients as human beings, even if they are under mental health restrictions. never lose sight of that.

Yep, my plan would be to let them know that we don't want to get involved, and if they could do (or stop doing whatever), then we are all set (no more trouble). "Do you think you can do/stop doing that?" Then if no cooperation, we re-ask. Then, if still no cooperation, we would restrain. I'm still unsure how this is typically done. I hope that the person doing the talking is reasonable, compassionate, and decent for many reasons: 1. Patents are human beings and deserve respect, etc.

 

[Gauss44]

I disagree with the bolded above from mcatjelly's post. I'm a mental health counselor in a involuntary inpatient psychiatric hospital that is state run, probably 70% of times I've been "attacked" or had a physical altercation has been over something they didn't necessarily feel threatened by. Last week one patient slept through the designated time we have snacks available. When he woke up and looked at the clock and realized he missed it by 5 hours he tried to jump over the nurses station to attack us. And no, he doesn't, and has never had any A/V hallucinations. He just said he was pissed he missed snacks. My other job is a police officer, so it's not because I look like an easy target or have poor situational awareness either.

If someone is physically attacking another person, there's no time for anything but jumping in with the other staff and taking care of it (restraining, etc.). Should the patient have any ounce of sanity, they should understand that later on.