[BrianRN-PsychSup]

Hi all.
I might be working in a state prison per diem in Massachusetts and was thinking about names.
I have read other posts on this wonderful and helpful site about the proper way for a nurse in the correctional environment to be identified. e.g. Nurse Tom or Nurse Jones, Mary or Mrs. Smith etc.

There is apparently a level of risk associated with the inmate population possessing personal info on staff. However, Massachusetts State Board of Nursing regulations require that a professional nurse be identified by a minimum of first name and level of credential on a legible name tag while engaged in the practice of nursing.

Several posts suggest that you should use only your last name and someone even suggested just the title of nurse. Does anyone have any insight into this? The CO's are all called by only their last name. No first names.

Thanks for your thoughts on this.
Brian RN

[nancykday]

Originally Posted by BrianRN-PsychSup

Hi all.
I might be working in a state prison per diem in Massachusetts and was thinking about names.
I have read other posts on this wonderful and helpful site about the proper way for a nurse in the correctional environment to be identified. e.g. Nurse Tom or Nurse Jones, Mary or Mrs. Smith etc.

There is apparently a level of risk associated with the inmate population possessing personal info on staff. However, Massachusetts State Board of Nursing regulations require that a professional nurse be identified by a minimum of first name and level of credential on a legible name tag while engaged in the practice of nursing.

Several posts suggest that you should use only your last name and someone even suggested just the title of nurse. Does anyone have any insight into this? The CO's are all called by only their last name. No first names.

Thanks for your thoughts on this.
Brian RN

The inmates must refer to the nurses as Nurse, Nurse (insert name)or
Mr/Ms/Mrs ( insert name) They may not to address us by our 1st name, although they may try. Your prison ID will have your name on it, that is the only thing i carry with me. I don't wear a name badge. We refer to our co-workers by their last name when inmates are around. WI work in a female prisonand address the inmate the same way I expect them to address me . I always address them as Ms. xxxx.
That is not to say that I haven't been addressed by an assortment of creative titles.
My absolute favorite was when one i/m had issues with my medical assessment of her recent medical crisis (she was faking) She called me a "Trailer Trash Syphlitic Whore". I was impressed didn't think could read and she had perfect pronounciating of syphlitic!!!!

[medsurgnurse]

Originally Posted by nancykday

The inmates must refer to the nurses as Nurse, Nurse (insert name)or
Mr/Ms/Mrs ( insert name) They may not to address us by our 1st name, although they may try. Your prison ID will have your name on it, that is the only thing i carry with me. I don't wear a name badge. We refer to our co-workers by their last name when inmates are around. WI work in a female prisonand address the inmate the same way I expect them to address me . I always address them as Ms. xxxx.
That is not to say that I haven't been addressed by an assortment of creative titles.
My absolute favorite was when one i/m had issues with my medical assessment of her recent medical crisis (she was faking) She called me a "Trailer Trash Syphlitic Whore". I was impressed didn't think could read and she had perfect pronounciating of syphlitic!!!!

You know it has a certain cadence to Trailer Trash Syphlitic Whore.

[nancykday]

Originally Posted by medsurgnurse

You know it has a certain cadence to Trailer Trash Syphlitic Whore.

I gave her an A+ for creativity.

[BrianRN-PsychSup]

Thanks for the quick response. It must be quite an accomplishment to go from such challenging living conditions with a tragic disease to the one caring for the I/M. (tongue firmly planted in cheek)

However, I too will be at the only female institution in the state. The nurses each only wear a name tag that states [ First name, RN or LPN]. I saw no system ID. The health care is under contract to UMass Correctional Health. I don't know if that has something to do with it.

I was very impressed with the DON and apparent caring of the staff in a challenging environment.

[nancykday]

You will find working with females challenging. The tend to be very histrionic. And for the 1st time in their life they are very concerned about their heakth status and many seem to have, in their opinion, a lay medical degree. After all the one i/m was able to see that I was suffering from undiagnosed STI. Probably b/c I was trailer trash I guess But I on the road to recovery now. Good luck, i hope you enjoy the position. I love corrections, something happens to make me laugh each day. Inmates say the darndest things

[mtsteelhorse]

I work in a small county facility. Because of the size I go by "nurse" or my first name...no ID badge worn in public. If my last name got out I could be very quickly located. I keep my phone number unlisted AND unpublished for safety. You have to think outside the box...how would a criminal think. Good luck!