Passing KOP's

[jschut]

We have a new system for passing KOP's. Now, a nurse, a QMA and 1 guard are to wheel a cart full of KOP's dorm to dorm and have this complete in 1.5 hrs each night.

The offenders are out and doing req time, and here we are, 3 sitting ducks, with a cart full of meds, walking dorm to dorm.

This is done because the offenders aren't coming up to get the meds, so now, we have to carry it to them.

#1- I (among others) feel this practice is dangerous.

#2- The offenders will figure out that we are doing this at the same time every night, and may come up with a plan.... steal, harm? who knows.

#3- This cuts down on the nurses time to get their work done, and I didn't know we were running a hotel with room service..... if they don't come up to get their meds... cancel them!

How do you other correctional nurses feel about this practice?

[tunafish1800]

It sounds like an unsafe, and "Authority Compromised" setting. If the inmates don't show up at pill line to get their medications, call them out. I believe its an infractible offense to miss medical call outs in the correctional setting in general ....at all correctional facilitys regardless of the state or location of the facility. Someone correct me if I am wrong.... Doing Kop meds this way wont bother some... and wouldn't me. I am comfortable in their living units but many inmates are like mean dogs... if your afraid... they sense it and will exploit it if it gains them some kind of advantage. The only medications we pass in the units are emergency meds, or Prn's that are scheduled between pill lines... oh and Ramadon however its spelled

[ptreebs]

I am in a small county jail. We have No KOP's. Inhalers are kept in control or booking, CO's deliver. I/M must kite for prn's. We have a 3 med pass system. Even though the CO's pick up kites at checks they only pick up and deliver med kites to us at 3 times a day... Inmates are required to take responsibility of getting kites out on time for prn's. If they go to bed after breakfast when they asked for Ibuprofen, that is no show. Routine drugs are usually offered at next med pass. I try to find out what the issue is and be reasonable but if they just dont want to get out of bed and come to door for the prn they requested then oh well. Analgesics and some prn are on commissary for them to use at their leisure if they have money.