[PHNJaymee]

This is such a great story.. I'm a newby here, to nursing, and to corrections. I really like how this story relates to how we learn to use our judgment as a nurse (the gut feeling), to be an advocate (which often times means using the power of the license), and to trust your assessment skills. I have an interview in a couple weeks for a state prison, and I'm learning more from this site than anywhere else. Thank you!

[UCME2P]

I've had experiences like that. I work county jail max security. The security hate when I send someone out because they have to go with the inmate and don't want to. It means overtime to admin. They always try to second guess me. I had an inmate recently that I wa very familiar with. A repeater. He had out of control diabetes and high blood pressure. He was non compliant. I did not bother to check on him when he first came in. I knew he had not taken meds and did not want to take meds. But, he frequently woke up with blood on his sheet and in his mouth and nose at home and in jail. One of the gaurds mentioned it to me and was all excited about it so I had the inmate brought up. The inmate is already protesting, he doesn't want to see me. His BP was 222/160 and there were signs of dried blood in the nares. I told the commander the inmate was in hypertensive crisis and need to go to ER now. HE says, "Did you ask the doctor"?. I said "It's a no brainer", If I call the doctor he'll ask why, what am I waiting for? So I had to call the doctor and apologise for bothering him. Doctor says "Tell them the inmate may die and they get to choose where." So I did, they go "OH, better call EMS instead of taking him in a squad car. Dummies!!!! You are on your own in corrections and better be able to make decisions on your own. I have fought many battles for sick inmates. It's not easy when your fighting the cops. They have an attitude and they like things their way. God love 'em anyway.

[Opera26]

I've been in corrections for a few months. Those stories sound exactly like the stuff that goes on where I work, too. Being second-guessed and controlled by non medical people is something you really have to get used to. Luckily, the job is worth it. I wish I had started in corrections years ago, (on most days.)

Op

[firstaiddave908]

Excellent work!!!

[psychonurse]

I have been a correctional nurse for 19 years and believe me, there have been many times that I have been second-guessed by the officers and if they keep on me I always say, "you can't afford to keep me in the way I am use to living if you don't send this guy out and he dies." Most of the time they don't give me any trouble because they know me now and they realize that I know most of the time that I know what I am talking about . Many times I have sent an inmate out and I haven't even called the doctor and he agreed with me in the morning.

One time many years ago I had an inmate that I just had one of those feelings, you know those nurse feelings. Well I called the doctor and told him that I really didn't know why I wanted to send him to the hospital, I just didn't feel right and his pain was getting worse. We sent him out and the next day I got to work and the doctor told me that he liked my "nurse feelings," cause the inmate had ruptured his gallbladder and it had encapsulated. If I hadn't sent him to the hospital it could have ruptured again and he could have died that time. Of course the officers didn't like that one either because he had been sitting in the infirmary for 12 hours and then all of a sudden he needed to go. But when they admitted him, the officers didn't hold anything against me.

Sonya

[Nur_1996]

Good Job! Everyone deserves quality care.

[Vito Andolini]

I'm glad you stood your ground. It's a shame that we have to fight with non medical personnel like that, though. It drains me when I have to fight with subordinates or even with Nursing Administration. I guess it's just part of life in the big city.

The only thing I'd have done differently is send him out the first time I saw him, as I'm not much of a gambler.

[NurseBean73]

I am so excited to see a forum for correctional nursing here! I was just hired at a correction center (I am a new grad) and all my former classmates are only interested in working in hospitals. It's going to be very interesting due to the fact that my fiance is a sargeant at the same facility. I've heard a lot about the discipline side of the job but I am going to be there as a nurse and I've made it very clear that my viewpoint will be very different than his. Anyway, great job on standing your ground and not being intimidated just because it was "shift change" and they didn't want to do anything! Maybe they'll respect your judgements from now on!

[Sugargirl66]

You go girl. Had one this past weekend. Sent out before doc called back. It's all good.

[Nurse4years]

Originally Posted by MadisonsMomRN

He asked for some water because he had ice with him and I told him "No, I am sending you out right now."

Craving ice can be a sign of anemia.
Working correctional, it seemed that the nurses were NEVER right, according to security. Either we were too soft, or too hard. Heard officers say "they don't take care of the inmates", and the next day "they baby the inmates".
CMS administration was morally bankrupt, refusing to back nurses, even refusing to answer pages.
It was too stressful for me. Gotta admire the @#%& of those who work it regularly.
How do you deal with the know it all officers?