[ahotrn53]

Originally Posted by crjnursewarrior

In answer to your question, no offense, YES you are naive. I have worked in corrections for three and ahalf years...and I say this all the time...the stories that we correctional nurses could tell would fill volumes, but no one would believe them...except other correctional nurses. It is not that we are calloused, we just have developed an affinity for sorting throught the crap to get to the real problems. We are compassionate and caring when the situation calls for it. The simple truth is that there are fewer situations in corrections that call for it. Corrections is a calling. You either sink or swim. Love it or hate it. For those of us who choose to make it our specialty...we love it. We probably could never work in another setting...or would not want to. It is a very stressful job at times. Ninety percent of the time you are on your own...you're making the decisions. But it is NEVER a dull, boring job! And it requires that a person be able to differentiate between a real medical need and a manipulative ploy by a dishonest inmate. I understand that people make mistakes, but you must keep in mind, these people are there because they broke the law...they are NOT honest, harmeless patients like the ones you see on a Med-Surg unit. It is that keen awareness to these facts that allows us to be good correctional nurses and to survive in such a setting. It is also the understanding of the lengths these inamtes will go to deceive you and being aware of those dangers that keeps us alert and safe and allows us to go home after our shift is over. So, like you, we take care of the unwanted souls, but most of them we do not feel sorry for. Most of them are there for a very good reason. However, we are still patient advocates. And it takes a very special nurse to be the advocate of a criminal.

Very well said :}

[HONEYBEAR]

My hat goes off to you nurses, you all do a great job.....a nursing field I could never get into. Bless you all.

[canoehead]

Why wasn't there a nurse in Oz? I would like to know!!

[psychonurse]

Well the reason there wasn't a nurse in OZ was that they might have saved the life of the guy that got shot or killed by the gun that got in through the visiting room!!!!! Oz was a bit over the line I think LOLOL

[ragabashjailnurse]

with us here the fake seizures are the ones that dont pee on them selves on the way to the ground. i have also been told that if i did not give an inmate and ibuprofen he would seize in 5 minitues. we occasinally get the real thing the fakes are just so much more entertaining

[ragabashjailnurse]

it also takes resitstance to look up charges and the understading that the jail morality and real world morality are 2 completly different things. its hard to at first do sick call on a dorm full of pedophiles but at least the pedophiles that i am giving medicine to are off the streets and behind bars where they belong. most inmates love to play and manipulate you just have to look past the games and get them to be straight with you. then after the medical need (if there is one is taken care of) you earn respect of the inmates. i know where i work i get swamped with health requests because the guys there know that if they put in a silp i will address it one way or another and get back to them and i do tell them straight if they are pulling my leg or what not. but i am the type of person that does not want to beat around the bush. i do love my job. i have left the field and went to the hospital but i came back because no matter what thesse people are incarcerated for they still need a nurse.

Raggy

Originally Posted by crjnursewarrior

In answer to your question, no offense, YES you are naive. I have worked in corrections for three and ahalf years...and I say this all the time...the stories that we correctional nurses could tell would fill volumes, but no one would believe them...except other correctional nurses. It is not that we are calloused, we just have developed an affinity for sorting throught the crap to get to the real problems. We are compassionate and caring when the situation calls for it. The simple truth is that there are fewer situations in corrections that call for it. Corrections is a calling. You either sink or swim. Love it or hate it. For those of us who choose to make it our specialty...we love it. We probably could never work in another setting...or would not want to. It is a very stressful job at times. Ninety percent of the time you are on your own...you're making the decisions. But it is NEVER a dull, boring job! And it requires that a person be able to differentiate between a real medical need and a manipulative ploy by a dishonest inmate. I understand that people make mistakes, but you must keep in mind, these people are there because they broke the law...they are NOT honest, harmeless patients like the ones you see on a Med-Surg unit. It is that keen awareness to these facts that allows us to be good correctional nurses and to survive in such a setting. It is also the understanding of the lengths these inamtes will go to deceive you and being aware of those dangers that keeps us alert and safe and allows us to go home after our shift is over. So, like you, we take care of the unwanted souls, but most of them we do not feel sorry for. Most of them are there for a very good reason. However, we are still patient advocates. And it takes a very special nurse to be the advocate of a criminal.

[shadow2]

I had one when I worked the florida correctional system. I was called out to an emergency in one of the units. I go running over there and this big big guy is just laying face down on the floor, spread out. I asked the CO what happened and he stated he just saw the guy go down on the floor. so I go over there, thinking maybe the worst. The guy is breathing and his guys are closed. I look at him and he opens his eyes, so I ask him what happened, did he faint, or what. He tells me he is hot and the floor is cold so he layed down on to cool off. I look at him, and ask if he needs medical help. He states no, I ask him if he needs help getting up, and he states no, and says he going to lay for awhile to cool off. This is summer in Florida at the time and no air conditioning in building. so I get get and tell the officer what is going on,and he wants me to make the inmate get off the floor. I tell him that this is not a medical emergency and if he wants the inmate off the floor he will have to do it himself. I leave with the CO sputtering but, but, but. What a waste of time. if the officer had bother to check first he would of found this out himself, but the guy was a small mountain and scared most people.

[uraqt2]

I've been in corrrctions for 7 years and have numerous stories to tell but the one that stands out most is a pshychotic male inmate who swore that he was pregnant. He waddled as though he was well over due and was convinced that his penis was the umbelical cord coming out. Try as we may to convince him that he wasn't pregnant he wouldn't hear any of it. He went so far as to try to cut his penis off since we wouldn't do anything about it. Needless to say meds finally kicked in and he couldn't believe what he had done.

Oh here's another favorite.... get an emergency call for an inmate who got stung by a bee and is having an allergic reaction. Upon arrival inmate reports he didn't get stung but is having crushing chest pain. Pulse is 54 threaded and dropping. Got an ambulance there and he had bypass done. Came back to us and is most grateful. Just goes to show you can't always depend on COs to give the accurate details.

Just one more thing I'm so glad to hear that fake seizures aren't isolated occurrances. We have so many that you lose track of them and it really is amazing how real they can appear.

[texascowgirl]

at a facility which of course shall remain nameless, a very old man was "raped" with a broom handle and presented to the medical department during sick call with the chief complaint of rectal bleeding. the MD order was "issue offender 3 extra rolls of toilet paper per week x 1 week". end of story.
disclaimer: i was not present during that shift and had nothing to do with that occurence. i will say that when i practice, i am completely and thoroughly up to date on all facility policies and procedures and SOP's, and practice accordingly.

[JailRN]

oh, the stories we correctional nurses could tell-----you are right, we ARE a special breed, but so are the nurses anywhere--I couldn't work , say, peds, for example, it would kill me. I'm tough, and take no crap from the IM, but, I treat them with respect UNTIL they don't deserve it. TTTHHHHEEEEENNN, "Sir, do NOT let my size (5'4"--110#), NOR my age (54) fool you, because I will STOMP you into the ground and mail whatever is left home to ya Mamma in a SMALL envelope! Now, SIT DOWN and do as I've asked!!" (They usually think I'm carzy OR capable and they don't mess with it. )

I've had numerous

IM who 'seize' in time with the music tha's playing, then (after deep sternal rub,) eyes pop open, sit up, and clearly say--'I had a seizure'

paramedics who come in, kick the IM, and yell, 'GET UP!!' and the IM does,

jailers who find (with me there) drugs, money, and GUNS (loaded) in anal canals!!

IM who think their 'right' to medical care includes, heart transplants, boob jobs, tummy tucks, nose jobs, gastric bypass, AND sex changes,

IM who claim to be--diabetic, hypertensive, etc, because their 'mamma' is ("When your Mother bacomes MY responsibility, I'll worry about your Mother, until then, did an American doctor tell you that YOU are??")

IM who have piercings in places that I never thought about piercing (I did that for about 2 years)

IM who are wearing chains and padlocks on their genitals (hysterically crying--"But Master will be MOST upset and displeased if I remove it"--hey it's simple, you take it off or we will cut it off)

My day is never dull and just when I think I've seen it all-I find out I haven't


(and I'm trying to get the police chief to put a light bar on top of my car)


BUT

I love my job

and

I wouldn't trade it for the world!!!!!!