The hard truth about being a hospital security guard.

AAA Security Guard Services
5 min readMar 27, 2024

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You’ve seen it a thousand times in movies and TV shows: the rent-a-cop strolling down a hospital hallway, looking tough but not really doing much.

In reality, being a hospital security guard is a demanding job with real responsibilities. You deal with unruly patients, distraught families, and volatile situations that require quick thinking and a cool head.

Forget the stereotype of the bored guard reading magazines at a desk. Your days are filled with rapid response calls, hands-on incidents, mountains of paperwork, and the stress of protecting lives. The job can be thankless and tiring, but for those with a calling to serve and protect the vulnerable, it’s deeply rewarding.

The Challenging Role of Hospital Security Guards

Keeping the Peace

As a hospital security guard, you have to handle difficult situations daily. Whether it’s dealing with unruly patients, visitors under the influence or domestic disputes that spill into the emergency room, you need to stay calm and defuse tensions. Your job is to keep the peace so doctors and nurses can do theirs.

Long Hours on Your Feet

Expect 12-hour shifts with little chance to sit. You’ll patrol hospital corridors and parking lots, respond to calls, escort staff to their vehicles after dark. Comfortable shoes are a must, as are patience and stamina. The long hours can take a physical and mental toll.

A Variety of Responsibilities

Hospital security work is varied. You may direct traffic, operate security cameras, check ID badges or patrol the maternity ward. No two days are the same.

Flexibility and the ability to think on your feet will serve you well in this demanding role where people’s health and safety are at stake. Though challenging, serving and protecting patients and staff in their time of need can be rewarding work.

Top 5 Issues Faced by Hospital Security Personnel

Whether you’re on the night shift or pulling a double, hospital security ain’t easy.

Violent Patients

When folks are sick or hurt, they can lash out. You’ll get cursed at, spit on, even

punched. Remain calm and call for backup. Your safety comes first.

Trespassing

There’s always someone trying to sneak in after visiting hours. Do regular rounds and keep an eye out for people who don’t belong. Politely but firmly escort them out.

Theft

Unfortunately, hospitals attract thieves looking to swipe meds, equipment or

patients’ belongings. Secure storage areas and patrol for suspicious activity.

Difficult Doctors

Some doctors think they run the place and don’t have to follow the rules. Stand your ground, but also show them respect. Compromise when you can.

Paperwork

You have to document every incident, no matter how small. Stay on top of reports and paperwork or it piles up fast. Take good notes and be detailed. The job’s tough, but for the right person, rewarding. You get to help people on the worst days of their lives.

Skills Needed to Succeed as a Hospital Guard

To thrive as a hospital security guard, you’ll need a mix of hard and soft skills. On the hard skills side, you must be physically fit and able to respond quickly in emergencies. You’ll also need to be certified in CPR, defensive tactics, and the proper use of restraints.

However, equally important are soft skills like empathy, discretion, and communication. You’ll interact with people from all walks of life, often during stressful moments.

The ability to de-escalate tense situations through respectful communication is essential. Patients, doctors, and visitors will share confidential information with you, so you must maintain discretion and professionalism at all times.

A successful hospital guard needs both physical capability and emotional intelligence. With the right skills and temperament, you can have a rewarding career protecting people during their most vulnerable moments.

Best Practices for Hospital Security Teams

As a hospital security guard, following best practices will help you excel in this challenging role. Always remain vigilant and patrol regularly, especially in waiting rooms and emergency areas. Respond quickly to calls for assistance and de-escalate situations through respectful communication.

Build positive relationships with staff and patients. Get to know the facility and staff schedules. Stay up-to-date with hospital policies and emergency procedures.

Additional tips:

  • Work as a team with nurses and doctors in crisis situations.
  • Remain professional and courteous even in high-stress emergencies.
  • Continuously train to improve skills and knowledge of the latest security techniques and technologies.

By following these best practices, hospital security teams can help create a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff. Staying prepared and vigilant, you’ll be ready to respond to any situation.

FAQs About Working in Hospital Security

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to work as a hospital security guard? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions:

What does a typical day look like?

No two days are the same in this job. You could be responding to disturbances, enforcing hospital policies, patrolling the grounds, or even helping restrain violent patients. Hospital security is always on the move, so you need to be ready for anything.

What are the major challenges?

Some of the biggest challenges are dealing with combative patients and visitors, breaking up altercations, and ensuring the safety of hospital staff.

Hospital security guards often encounter people dealing with emotional distress, mental health issues or under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Staying calm and composed is critical.

Do I need any special training?

Most hospital security positions require at least a high school diploma and in-house training. Some hospitals may prefer candidates with additional training in areas like emergency response, CPR certification or experience in law enforcement. Strong communication and de-escalation skills are essential.

What attributes are important?

The most important attributes for a hospital security guard are composure, empathy, discretion and physical fitness.

You need to stay calm in stressful situations, understand people are often at their worst, maintain strict confidentiality, and potentially restrain combative individuals. If you have these qualities and want a fast-paced role helping your community, hospital security could be a great fit.

Contact Us Today

If you have any additional questions or concerns about hospital security, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team is always here to provide helpful information and address issues.

Together, we can work to strengthen safety practices at our hospital and build a secure environment for patients, visitors and staff. But we need your help and input to fully understand the challenges involved. Your voice matters in this important conversation.

Please let us know if there’s any way we can support you further. We appreciate your partnership in creating the best possible experience at our hospital. Our door is always open.

For inquiries about security services or further information, you can contact AAA Security Guard Services:

Telephone: +1 817–677–8803

Email: info@aaaguards.com

Website: aaaguards.com

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AAA Security Guard Services

Need security services you can count on? AAA Security Guard Services has the experience and expertise to handle any assignment, big or small. Contact us now!