Nurses as Security? ANMF Says No!
July 2024
The ANMF (Tasmania Branch) today stated it will fight a new Royal Hobart Hospital practice of training Associate Nurse Unit Managers to perform searches and pat-downs for weapons on patients.
ANMF Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said she was shocked to hear of this troubling development at the Royal.
“At first I thought someone must be joking – but when I learnt that this was a fact, I was horrified,” Ms Shepherd said.
“Associate Nurse Unit Managers being trained to conduct searches and pat-downs for weapons on patients – this is far beyond their nursing duties and a serious safety risk.
“Nurses are healthcare professionals, not security personnel!”
Ms Shepherd said the ANMF is demanding immediate action from the Tasmanian Health Service to provide proper security staff for these situations.
“The ANMF has advised members NOT to complete these duties.
“In our view these duties sit outside of the scope of practice and statement of duties of Nurses and Midwives.
“We are demanding properly trained and resourced security personnel are the appropriate personnel to maintain safety and perform such duties.
“More importantly Nurses and Midwives should be focused on clinical duties and care and have this valuable time removed to attend to security duties.”
Ms Shepherd said the training was being delivered by an ex-police officer.
“Initially, our members believed this training was intended to ensure they could verify the proper execution of such searches by police or security personnel. However, it has now been clarified that the intention is for ANUMs themselves to perform these searches.
“No nurse should be required to perform searches or pat-downs on patients.”
Ms Shepherd said if such duties are directed to them, the ANMF will lodge an application in the Tasmanian Industrial Commission for a review of action.
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Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.Shepherd@anmftas.org.au