From left: Carlton McCollough, PCA; Liz Metz, RN; Kimberly Harris, PCA; and Garrison Resnick, Director of Security, 8 Bernstein, Mount Sinai Beth Israel
A unique partnership has evolved at the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, 8 Bernstein, leading to a sense of peace for both patients and staff.
In a program approved by senior leadership, Nursing and Security have been working closely together since 2017.
“Security knows merely by a glance when their assistance is needed,” says Liz Metz, RN, Nurse Manager. “Importantly, they understand the most effective kinds of communications to calm agitated patients.”
The embedding has been so close that three of the security staff assigned to 8B have decided to become Patient Care Associates in the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program at Beth Israel.
Garrison Resnick, Director of Security at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, is not surprised. “Spending so much time on 8B has fueled their desire to be on the front lines of patient health. It’s great for their careers and a boon to the hospital.”
Kimberly Harris is one of the security officers who transitioned to patient care. “People are people,” she says. “Whether I’m in security or patient care, I treat these patients like the wonderful humans they are.”