Keeping Cool When Things Get Heated
Chris J., March’s Promise Maker of the Month, is known for the compassion and respect he shows patients, visitors and colleagues at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth.
A co-worker nominated the security officer after Chris helped the employee through a difficult time.
“My day-to-day work ethic and engagement had begun to slip,” the nomination said. “This employee stood by my side and encouraged me to do better. He reminded me of the employee I had been before and informed me he knew the greatness I could achieve. His support and motivation helped me recover.”
Chris said that’s just who he is.
“Everyone at some point just needs someone to talk to,” he said. “I don’t always have to say anything. It’s just lending a sympathetic ear. I try to be as positive as I can be.”
What did you want to be as a kid and how did you ultimately choose your career?
I wanted to be an architect. I loved building plans, numbers and angles. When I turned 18, I started framing houses. About two years later, my boss fell and broke his back, so I needed a new job and went into corrections. After working in corrections, it’s easy to go into security.
What do you like best about your job?
I’m corporal of the third shift, so I get to manage what we do and how we do it. I do scheduling and payroll. Math was always one of my strongest suits, so that kind of thing is right up my alley.
What’s the biggest challenge?
Not knowing what’s going to happen every day. Some days, it’s just basic duties, locking and unlocking doors, and things like that. But then someone will come in, and they need medical attention or a loved one does, and they’re already stressed. They get mad if they don’t think they’re getting the help they should, and we have to step in.
How do you keep your cool?
I worked in a medium-security prison, and you don’t have any protection there except a radio. You have to just hope helps comes quickly if there’s trouble. You get really good at being able to talk to all kinds of people and calm them down with just your words.
What’s something that people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m really an open book, but I love the ocean. That’s where my heart lies, and one day I’m going to live on a beach somewhere. If I’m at the ocean with a fishing pole in my hand, I’m perfectly happy.
By Robin P. Loveman • Posted May 1, 2019
