Locking down care

Starting 2026 close to home, I’m kicking things off with yet another New York-based story that puts security front and center – this time in the area of healthcare.

When more than 1,000 nurses at three Northwell hospitals on Long Island delivered strike notices on Jan. 2, a critical issue was raised that hospital leaders cannot ignore - safety.

Nurses aren’t just fighting for fair contracts - they’re fighting for environments where they can care for patients without fearing for their own well-being. And when nurses feel unsafe, patients are at risk too.

In a press release issued by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) announcing the 10-day strike notice, Meloi Policastro, a registered nurse (RN) at Northwell Syosset Hospital, said, “We are ready to settle fair contracts, but staffing continues to be a sticking point that Northwell will not budge on. Nurses fight for our patients, and we will continue to fight for patients across Long Island until we get safe staffing ratios that ensure that our patients are safe and that we are able to give the best care possible.”

Healthcare is one of the most dangerous professions in the United States. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), incidents of workplace violence in healthcare settings occur four times more often than in other industries. Nurses and frontline caregivers routinely face verbal abuse, physical assaults, and threats from patients or visitors. These risks escalate in understaffed environments, where long wait times and high stress can turn volatile situations into violent ones.

Grace Silva, an RN at Northwell Huntington Hospital, put it bluntly in the announcement. “A strike is always a last resort. But we are willing to take this sort of action if it helps improve care on Long Island,” she said. “We know Northwell can afford to invest in safe patient care, so there is no reason why we should be asked to care for patients under conditions that are untenable.”

When nurses fear for their safety, patient care suffers. Stress and burnout erode morale, increase turnover, and compromise quality. In extreme cases, nurses walk off the job entirely - disrupting operations and putting communities at risk.

The Northwell strike threat underscores a reality - protecting nurses is inseparable from protecting patients. Hospitals cannot deliver quality care if caregivers are working in unsafe conditions. Security leaders have a critical role to play in creating environments where both staff and patients feel secure.

Healthcare facilities are complex. They balance open access for patients and families with the need to protect staff and sensitive areas. This demands a proactive, layered security approach that includes the following measures:

• Threat Assessment and Early Intervention
  Behavioral threat assessment programs can identify escalating situations before they become dangerous. Security teams should work closely with clinical staff to share observations and intervene early.
• Technology Integration
  Modern security technology can be a force multiplier. Video analytics can detect aggressive movements, panic buttons can summon help instantly, and real-time communication platforms ensure rapid coordination between security and clinical teams.
• Collaborative Training
  Security officers and healthcare staff need joint training in de-escalation techniques. Nurses often encounter aggression first; equipping them with skills and clear protocols for calling security can prevent harm.
• Access Control and Visitor Management
  Hospitals must strike a balance between accessibility and security. Robust visitor management systems, coupled with controlled access to sensitive areas, reduce unauthorized entry and potential threats.

Chris Coburn, an RN at Northwell Plainview Hospital, summed up the urgency. “Nurses on Long Island have never been more united. We hope this sends the message to Northwell that nurses are serious about improving care,” he said in the NYSNA release. “We need change and we need it now, because our patients deserve quality care and nurses deserve the health coverage that keeps us safe and able to give the care patients need.”

For healthcare organizations, investing in security isn’t optional - it’s essential. And for security professionals, this is an opportunity to lead. By championing safety initiatives, security teams can help prevent violence, support clinical staff, and reinforce trust in the healthcare system.

Hospitals must treat safety as a core component of care - not an afterthought. Protecting nurses is not just about fairness; it’s about survival for the entire healthcare system.

When caregivers feel secure, they can focus on healing rather than defending themselves. That means fewer disruptions, better patient outcomes, and stronger trust in the institutions that serve our communities. The message is clear: investing in security is investing in care. Anything less puts both nurses and patients at risk.