Dangers of Labeling Inmates - Stories Sought

We had an inmate complaining of something I cannot remember now. One nurse muttered "drug seeking" under her breath. It turned out she was very wrong. Things are not always as they seem.
I have also learned that if you walk around talking about faking, a new nurse might interpret your attitude wrong. For example, if (and I do mean IF) I was to walk around talking about faking, I certainly would not mean that one should not see the patient or do a half-assed assessment. No no no! I could say something about faking, but you can bet I am going to try my darndest to prove myself wrong in order to protect my license! But a new nurse might take all that "faking" talk to mean that he or she is supposed to do a quickie half-assed assessment or do nothing. I have seen this actually happen.
So, we seasoned correctional nurses have to be very careful when we casually talk about faking. Teach your new nurses that, yes, it happens, but you must always act on is as if it is legitimate.

I think we have all run across a time or two when an im may have been "faking" it...but you do your assessment with the equipment and skills that you have. We have very limited equipment at our facility, not even an ekg. Basically we have our nursing skills, equiptment for vital signs, and gut instinct. There have been times when I have sent an im out for assessment and they have come back with nothing wrong, not often, but it happens. Or someone I have declined at intake d/t extreme intoxication, potential head injury, etc... Some people are just borderline wether they are honest in what is happening or just wanting a nice warm bed, tv, and cup of juice at the hospital. And you have to keep in mind what happens to custody when you send someone out...that is staffing is affected, cost, etc....but sticking with good assessment skills and your duty as a nurse I always stick to one motto....."if in doubt, ship em out"...it's not worth my licensce.