Best Practices for Management of Hospital Security Guards

Hospitals are the most visited place on a daily basis for emergencies, OPDs, and other consultation purposes. There is a continuous need to manage the crowd, procedures, and staff for reliable hospital security. A hospital security guards needs to have the mental and physical health to carry out the daily routes. Recently, stress management has been prioritized in many workplaces that were previously ignored for better physical and mental health being of the hospital security officer. With this awareness, an overview of the amplified stress triggers and their coping strategies are high in demand. Hospitals must be aware that if employees are estimated to handle a more severe workload, proper mental and physical health trials must be enacted within the premises. 

Why Stress Management is Important for better hospital Security?

Hospital security company like Guard24 works on the amplified needs of employers to take care of their staff, hospital security officer, and hospital security guard to manage the operations fairly keeping in mind the safety and stress management in employees to keep them committed to hospital security goals. This is mainly important for all hospital security officers and guards. Managing the cognitive workload in hospital security guard’s responsibilities is a high priority for frontline security staff, as the physical and perceptual load impact the guard’s decision-making, vigilance, and devotion which is of utmost importance when working within a hospital checkpoint environment. It is important for a hospital security company to work with frontline security staff that need to develop practices to optimize various stress management attributes including attention allocation, pattern recognition, logical reasoning, and classification, visual memory strategies, visual search, and problem-solving. Stress management includes behavioral, physiological, cognitive, and environmental assessments with proper training.

Stress Triggers for Security Guards in a Hospital Environment

A hospital security guard plays a crucial role in maintaining order and makes certain the safety of entities within a hospital environment. The Hospital Security Company Edmonton has responsibilities that are significant and important to recognize the inherent stress that comes with the work. Hospital environments are exclusive, and filled with erratic situations, high-pressure circumstances, and emotional encounters.

• Emotional encounters

Hospital security guards often find themselves in emotionally accused situations. They witness the actual pain and suffering of patients, worried family members, and stressed healthcare professionals. Such encounters can be overwhelming, particularly when faced with agitated individuals, devastated families, or aggressive patients. Continuous exposure to such extreme emotions can take a toll on their mental well-being.

1. Empathy overload: Hospital security guards may witness the raw emotions of grief, fear, and misery that can lead to an overload of empathy. Persistent exposure to such emotions can trench the guards emotionally and it becomes challenging for them to maintain a professional distance.
2. Emotional taint: Being in a constant emotional environment can make security guards susceptible to emotional taint. They may absorb the destructive emotions of others, consequential in increased stress and anxiety. Such emotional transference can be overwhelming and harmfully affect hospital security officers’ well-being.
3. Frustration: Hospital security guards may witness circumstances where they are unable to deliver the level of assistance or care that they would like to show. They may be bound by rules and protocols or limited in their capacity to interfere. This sense of helplessness can be extremely frustrating, leaving them with a sense of powerlessness and stress.
4. Dealing with aggression: Hospital security officers may face aggressive behavior from patients or their relatives due to the highly emotional and stressful nature of the healthcare environment. Physical and verbal confrontations can leave guards feeling susceptible, adding to their stress levels.

• Unpredictable and high-pressure situations

Are you wondering what hospital security do? Hospitals are fast-paced and unpredictable surroundings. A hospital security guard must be prepared to react quickly and correctly to emergencies, including dealing with violent or aggressive individuals, managing chaotic situations, or setting conflicts among patients or visitors. The continual need to be vigilant and make split-second decisions can create immense stress, as any slip-up could have severe penalties.

1. Continuous Vigilance: Hospital security guards are required to be persistently vigilant due to the serious nature of the healthcare setting. A hospital security company in Edmonton must monitor multiple areas, such as emergency rooms, entrances, and critical areas like the ICU or psychiatric wards. The need for persistent awareness and attention can build high levels of stress, as they must be equipped to respond swiftly to any security break or emergency situation.
2. Emergency Response: Hospitals are susceptible to various emergencies, including theft, violent incidents, or even potential terrorist threats. In such circumstances, a hospital security guard is expected to respond swiftly and efficiently, working in coordination with other hospital workforce and emergency services. The stress to make instant decisions in critical situations ensures the safety of everyone involved, which can be extremely stressful and emotionally taxing.
3. Work Schedule and Fatigue: Hospital security officers often work long hours, including weekends and night shifts to ensure 24/7 security coverage. Uneven work schedules repeated overtime and disrupted sleep patterns can disturb their personal lives resulting in chronic fatigue and amplified stress levels. The combination of physical fatigue and mental strain can make them more vulnerable to stress triggers and affect their overall job performance.

• Exposure to trauma

Security guards in hospitals may see traumatic events, such as violent altercations, accidents, or medical emergencies. These events can leave an eternal impact on their mental health resulting in the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Being open to traumatic events frequently can make it difficult for hospital security guards to cope and can suggestively contribute to their stress levels.

1. Frequent Contact with Distressing Events: Hospital security guards in Edmonton often encounter distressing events on a regular basis, which can include observing accidents, responding to aggression or violence, or encountering the outcome of traumatic medical procedures. Repeated exposure to such events can result in collective stress and emotional exhaustion.
2. Emotional Burden: Security individuals interact with people who are experiencing high levels of suffering, whether it be patients, relatives, or even hospital staff. They may need to cope with confrontations, calm agitated entities, or deal with grieving families. This emotional burden of handling these intense interactions can be devastating and lead to increased stress.
3. Lack of Control: Hospital guarding services may feel a sense of helplessness when confronted with traumatic situations. Hospital security officer often have limited authority to interfere directly in medical emergencies or adjust the outcome of events. This lack of control can add to feelings of frustration, feebleness, and stress.

• Long working hours and shift work

A hospital security guard often works long hours resulting in irregular working patterns that disrupt their sleep schedules and personal lives, thus making it challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance. The absence of adequate rest and restoration can heighten stress levels and destructively impact their overall well-being.

1. Fatigue: Extended working hours can lead to fatigue, upsetting concentration, alertness, and decision-making capabilities. This can lessen the hospital security guard’s ability to respond efficiently to emergencies or threats.
2. Lack of Work-Life Balance: Extensive hours at work can leave hospital security guards with limited time for individual activities, leisure, and family promises. The lack of a healthy work-life balance can add to stress, strained relationships, and compact job satisfaction.
3. Physical Health Problems: Sitting or standing up for long periods, often in tense situations, can lead to several physical health problems, such as muscle strain, back pain, and joint issues. Poor diet and insufficient exercise due to time constraints can worsen these issues.
4. Sleep Disorders: Uneven working hours can lead to sleep disorders, such as sleep deprivation, insomnia, and circadian rhythm disruptions. Insufficient sleep negatively disturbs mood regulation, cognitive functions, and overall well-being.
5. Augmented Stress and Anxiety: The erratic nature of shift work and the continuous need to adapt to fluctuating schedules can induce stress and anxiety. The absence of a fixed routine and difficulty in keeping social connections can further contribute to these issues.
6. Influence on Family and Social Life: Uneven shifts often make it perplexing for hospital security guards to engage in routine social activities and spend quality time with their families resulting in feelings of isolation, detachment, and reduced social support.

• Dealing with difficult individuals

Hospital security often faces stimulating situations involving aggressive or intoxicated persons, disruptive visitors, and drug-seeking patients. Controlling such individuals requires a high level of patience, conflict-resolution skills, and the aptitude to maintain serenity in difficult circumstances. The continuous need to diffuse tense situations can result in elevated stress levels and emotional exhaustion.

1. Antagonistic Patients: Hospital security guard often meet patients who may be experiencing fear, pain, or frustration, leading to antagonistic behavior. A hospital security company helps to deal with physically aggressive patients that require the guard to employ phasedown techniques while highlighting the safety of everyone involved.
2. Disrupting Visitors: Hospitals are open to an extensive range of visitors, including tense family members, agitated friends, and sometimes even aggressive individuals. A hospital security guard may need to achieve unruly behavior, impose visitor policies, and handle situations where visitors decline to comply.
3. Verbal Abuse and Intimidations: A hospital security officer frequently encounters individuals who are distressed, angry, or anxious. In such occurrences, they may become marks of verbal abuse or even receive intimidation. Continuing such aggression can have a profound psychological influence on Hospital Security Guard Services in Edmonton, Alberta, making them susceptible to stress.
4. Emotional Exhaustion: Constantly handling challenging individuals can trench a security guard emotionally. The persistent exposure to extreme emotions, conflicts, and crises can result in emotional exhaustion, making it problematic for guards to maintain their own well-being and flexibility.
5. Dropped Job Satisfaction and Burnout: Continually dealing with difficult individuals can corrode a security guard’s job satisfaction and eagerness. Burnout, characterized by cynicism, exhaustion, and a decreased sense of achievement, becomes a real risk, possibly leading to a failure in job performance and complete well-being.

• Responsibility for safety and security

Hospital security services in Edmonton bear the responsibility of making sure the safety and security of patients, staff, and hospital possessions. This includes patrolling premises, monitoring access points, and responding to alarms or security breaks. The burden of this responsibility can be devastating and adds to the stress levels qualified by hospital security guard services in Edmonton.

1. Hostile Individuals: Hospital environments can occasionally attract aggressive or disruptive individuals due to the keen emotions and stress associated with medical emergencies. Hospital security frequently encounters tense patients or individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A hospital security company helping in managing these conflicts while preserving a calm and composed manner is a demanding task that can escalate stress levels for security guards.
2. Multiple Responsibilities: Hospital security guards often have dissimilar responsibilities apart from sustaining safety and security. They may be involved in enforcing visitor policies, monitoring access control, dealing with parking lots, escorting patients or valuables, and reacting to general inquiries. What does hospital security do in balancing these multiple responsibilities simultaneously? Certainly, it requires exceptional multitasking capabilities and can add to the stress experienced by hospital security guards.
3. Shift Work and Sleep Disruption: Numerous hospital security guards work on revolving shifts, including overnight and weekend shifts. This asymmetrical work schedule can upset their sleep patterns, leading to fatigue, condensed concentration, and increased stress.

Best Practices for Stress Management for Hospital Security Guards

Hospital security guards and officers can suffer increased feelings of anxiety, irritation, uncertainty, anger, and denial. It is common to lack enthusiasm, have trouble sleeping or thinking, and feel tired, stunned, burned out, sad, and even depressed. A hospital security company in Edmonton region helps in managing the increased social problems and symptoms of depression and anxiety to evaluate the best practices to execute better hospital security responsibilities. This can be achieved with the following checklist:

1. Examine virtual or in-person focus groups
2. Carry out a short baseline survey
3. Conduct General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD) evaluation
4. Evaluate all data to create mitigation solutions

The following best practices can be carried out by the hospital security services in Edmonton for better and streamlined duties of the hospital security guards with stress:

• Prioritize Self-Care

Taking care of oneself is critical for managing stress. Hospital security guards should pay attention to their emotional, physical, and mental well-being. This ensures they get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, and involve in regular exercise. Taking breaks and managing time for relaxation and hobbies can also support recharge and rejuvenation.

• Build a Support Network

A hospital security company in Edmonton like Guard24 help in developing a support network that is essential for managing stress. Attach colleagues who understand the distinctive challenges of your job. Providing hospital security staff and officers employed by the security industry to voice their concerns and meaningfully engage with alleviation tactics greatly increases.

Hospital security services and their security teams can create a script for hospital security officers to follow to streamline the process and anticipate common responses.  A streamlined procedure for identifying and mitigating work-related stress allows for fewer disruptions with a healthy workforce. 

• Mindfulness and Stress-Reduction Practices

Mindfulness and stress reduction practices can help hospital security guards manage their stress levels efficiently. Deep breathing workouts, meditation, and mindfulness practices can encourage relaxation and calmness, decreasing the impact of stress triggers. Deliberate participating in stress management plans or seeking professional guidance.

• Effective Communication Skills

Improving communication skills can significantly mend stress management. Hospital Security Guarding Services often encounter difficult and potentially confrontational situations. But by developing effective communication skills, such as empathy, active listening, and clear articulation, hospital security guards can de-escalate tense situations and lessen their own stress levels.

• Seek Proper Training and Education

A hospital security company helps in obtaining relevant training and education that is vital for a security guard to feel capable in their role. Hospitals should offer comprehensive training on emergency response conventions, conflict management, and stress management methods. The more equipped guards with the necessary knowledge and skills offer better means to handle stressful situations.

• Establish Boundaries

Preparing clear boundaries between work and personal life is decisive for managing stress triggers. While on duty, concentrate on the tasks at hand and remain attentive. However, when off-duty, intentionally detach yourself from work-related stress triggers and engage in happenings that help you relax and unwind. Generate a balance between work and personal life to avert burnout.

• Positive Work Environment

Teamwork and a positive work environment can considerably reduce stress levels for hospital security guards. A hospital security company encourages teamwork, open communication, and assistance among colleagues. They help to recognize and escalate their efforts and offer opportunities for professional development. A positive work environment nurtures resilience and improves job satisfaction.

• Supportive Resources

Make use of accessible resources to manage stress triggers efficiently. Many hospitals have employee assistance programs (EAPs) that compromise support groups, counseling services, or wellness programs. These possessions can provide a safe space to definite concerns and seek guidance.

• Investment in Maintaining Safety and Security

Investment in resources and a better security partner like Guard24 support the health and well-being of security guards for hospital security and public safety. Hospital and security teams can offer education on the concerns of prolonged stress and offer ways for employees to acknowledge experiencing symptoms for better management.    

• Fostering Productivity

Productivity is associated with an increased sense of security mission. Hospitals and their security teams should improve and disseminate operational communications with key concerns in emphasizing the importance of stress management. Modules for identifying and acknowledging stress and anxiety in the hospitals can include hospital security guards and officers’ participation for a more relatable approach.

Guard24 is a Canadian-based security service in Edmonton and its allied region with professional training for commercial and residential security management. We work on guards and officers physical and mental health being. Get the quotation.