Demands from inmates

Specialties Correctional

Published

Specializes in Pediatrics, Correctional.

Hey everyone. I am from a little secuity center that houses only about 250 inmates, male and females. I work 2-12 and I am the only nurse on duty at that time. I would like to get some input on how other nurses handle inmates when they get demanding. I have inmates that come up to my medcart and state, that they have to have their B/P checked right now, because supposedly the a.m. nurse didn't take their B/P. But you don't know if it was taken or not. There is nothing on the pass-on log, and nothing on the MAR, and you don't know if they are telling you the truth or not! Do you take their B/P, or not? You tell me!

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I'm currently a student nurse at a correctional facility. I can tell you that inmate is out of line.

IMO...Do not meet the demand. Rather give space to the situation, tell him/her they need to wait (in a different area) use your officers. Do the B/P on your timing, gives you time to check, think, or cool down. Do not be treated like that. In my facility that would be a write-up, in which the inmate would lose privileges.

My 2 cents....

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Specializes in Addictions, Corrections, QA/Education.

I get that too sometimes. When an inmate tells me that they need a BP check RIGHT NOW... "I have to take care of what I came out here to do first"

Ugh. I get all kinds of demands. I hate it because some of them think they are staying at the Hyatt!

Do you have correctional officers close? I agree that the co's need to take control of the situation!

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, corrections, +.

I guess I would prioritize it based on their Dx and Rx. Then I would say I will try, IF corrections has time, and the longer I take at med pass the less people I get to see. ( repeat as neccessary) Most of them get the message. If it is not on the MAR or not an order and they do not appear in distress, and have used this ploy before for entertainment, I have in the past not called them down. I've had kids with no hx claim they need their blood sugar checked. Of course you check it and it is ok..guess what... no PB&J before bed time. But how many times do you make time for that when you have legitamite claims?

I never promise something. Needs of the facility first and all. I am at the mercy of corrections. They are great; but safety is a priority and so you practice nursing on their time frame. Someone who wants to get weighed because he has been working out...not so much. Someone with a hx of heart disease..ok. I am always accompanied and the officers will just shut the food pass if the inmates are demanding, or if I tell them "we're done here." I am always respectful of IM's but firm as well.

All that being said it can be frustrating. Hang in there.

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Specializes in Home Health.

I have never worked corrections but get inmates on our floor if that floor is full. A new hire just told me she got out of corrections because there is a law now that states you have to see everyone who asks to be seen even if you are by yourself. How true is this?

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Specializes in ER- Correctional.

At my facility, the inmates do not demand anything!. Most B.P's are done during the daytime, as there are more nurses then. We schedule certain inmates who either have hypertension, or take medications that warrant a BP check (either weekly or monthly). The last 2 Fridays of each month, we have a free BP clinic, from 14:00--14:30...Anyone can have their BP at this time. When an Inmate comes up & demands you do something for them,"now". They are definatly out of line. An inmate like that ,would be taken straight to the "hole",at my facility.

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Specializes in Corrections, Pediatrics, Adult Health ...

They are in jail NOT the Hilton. I have no problem telling them that. In my area, girls get arrested just to have the county pay for their birthing ... it stinks, but true.

I let the IM know when they get out of line for me and have no problems sending them for "8 hour medical watch" (i.e. tank time), if they feel it is that detrimental. That usually "cures" their symptoms. After a while you get to know who is "looking for entertainment" or has a legit problem.

~AMY~

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Where I work (also in corrections) the standard response is to fill out a medical call request. If they get out of line, have security remove them from the pill call line. Remain consistant and you should find that this attention seeking behavior will slow down alot.

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Specializes in Rehab, Corrections, LTC, and Detox Nurse.

I don't have this problem because there is a nurse downstairs who can handle these things while i'm on pill call. If it's just a regular check with no symptoms or not required before meds=they can wait. Otherwise, if they're feeling bad or complaining of symptoms, I check and that's all about covering you. I'd rather know they are playing games then not know they are in danger.

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I don't usually have this problem as the inmates know that when I'm doing med pass I am NOT there to do sick call or other procedures. Med pass is exactly that med pass. However, I do not want to imply that if an inmate has a legit complaint that I won't take the time to look into it. There's nothing wrong with reinforcing the policies to inmates and taking a minute to explain that you are there passing meds not checking B/Ps, if he/she wants his B/P checked then he/she must go through the proper channels. Also, if you know that the inmates has a history of HTN or cardiac and they are asymptomatic you can check the chart to see if they have an order but unless you feel it's necessary to check the B/P I would say that this is inappropriate behavior from the inmate. I would advise the inmate he/she is out of line and leave it at that. If the inmate continues then I would have custody remove the inmate from the area and do a write up.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

If the inmates are barking orders at you, then your correctional officers are not doing their job. Where I work, when an inmate starts getting out of line just a little, the officers are quick to put them back in their place and let them know that there is a process to getting things done.

If you drop what you're doing to check a BP, then the next guy will want his BP checked, and the next, and the next, and you end up spending your whole shift checking blood pressures.

If he has no abnormal sx/sx, tell him what the procedure is for BP checks and tell him to put in a sick call request if he thinks he has a problem that needs to be addressed. BP checks are non-emergent, and if they're supposed to be done in the AM, that's the inmate's problem. He knows that he is supposed to get his BP checked, but for whatever reason chose not to, or decided that because the officers did not call him out of his dorm to get it checked that he didn't need to be proactive and get it checked.

I will do whatever I can within my power to help, because I know these guys already have it rough and don't need to go through a bunch of crap to get basic medical care, but when they think they can bypass the system and start telling me what to do, either I or the officer are quick to shut them down.

In my very short time in corrections, I've found that you have to treat inmates like children to a degree. Be respectful and kind as much as you can, but set firm limits and let them know that there are rules they have to follow. If you're consistently firm and fair, you'll get more respect and less BS in time.

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Specializes in ER- Correctional.

I concur. You have to remember, if you give or do something for one inmate ,you have to do the same for all of them..It is best to just say no most of the time.LOL (That's speaking figuratively of course) :wink2:

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