A hospital security officer is in charge of managing access to the facility and ensuring the safety and well-being of its patients and employees. A person in this position, like many other types of security jobs, may take a training course and then be licensed or certified to work in the field of private security. Because hospitals can have complicated security concerns, security officers can expect to face numerous, and sometimes conflicting, security challenges on the job. These challenges include keeping a calm and welcoming environment for patients and their families while also dealing with situations where emotions are running high or where strangers may enter the hospital looking for drugs or patient information.
Hospitals exist to help people who are sick or injured. As a result, many patients in hospitals are vulnerable to exploitation, theft of their belongings, and even violence. In addition, hospitals typically keep large drug inventories, some of which may have significant street value. In the same way, hospital employees are vulnerable to violence from both patients and family members. A hospital security officer is responsible for keeping the peace and safeguarding the people and property within its walls.
Prior to taking on job responsibilities, a hospital security officer will usually go through a training program. It’s not uncommon for him or her to have prior security or law enforcement experience. A security guard, for example, could be a current or former police officer. The type of training required to work in hospital security varies by jurisdiction and the training course provider’s and the security officer’s employer’s standards. A hospital may choose to hire its own security personnel or hire and manage a security team through an outside staffing agency. Private security officers must be licensed by a government agency in some jurisdictions.
The actual responsibilities of a hospital security officer differ depending on the hospital where the guard works and his or her level of experience. Some areas of the hospital may have more stringent security measures in place than others. Many hospitals, for example, take extra security precautions in maternity wards to prevent newborn infant abduction. A stronger security presence in areas of the hospital where drugs or other types of expensive equipment are stored may also be beneficial.