[RN.38SPCL]

Originally Posted by chris_at_lucas_RN

I don't see this as a contradiction or adding anything new. I guess I would be of the opinion that we are no longer on topic: discussing whether imprisoned individuals should receive proper medical care at the expense of the state.....

If I might make one request, RN.38SPCL, however: it is very difficult to read all caps and initial caps. If you wouldn't mind, could you post using the usual method (e.g., not making the initial of every word a capital)?

I'm sure what you have to say is important but it is so hard to read!

Thanks....

Sorry, I'm blind, it's easier to type in caps.

[chris_at_lucas_RN]

Originally Posted by RN.38SPCL

Sorry, I'm blind, it's easier to type in caps.

These are initial caps.....

Maybe a larger font? If you are able to see all caps, a larger font should work well.

Thanks.

[nservice]

As a nurse, I have no problem caring for inmates. As a citizen, I have a problem with paying for their health care. There is a big difference between these two issues.

[BBFRN]

On a side note, it was Dorothea Dix (a nurse), who reformed prison health care in the 1800's, and fought for mental health care for inmates. She was the first one to see that most of those who were incarcerated suffered from some type of mental illness.

The prison I worked in required inmates to pay $2 a visit to the medical dept. (unless we required that they come in). It's not much to us, but it did cut down on frivolous medical visits.

[RN1989]

Originally Posted by nservice

As a nurse, I have no problem caring for inmates. As a citizen, I have a problem with paying for their health care. There is a big difference between these two issues.

So I wonder how our country's citizenry think that people who are in prison will be able to get jobs that will allow them to pay for healthcare? They can't exactly go scouring the want ads and go work at Walmart in order to have money for the doctor and meds....... I get the feeling that the fact that they are prisoners is the problem. Because they did something bad we shouldn't care for them.

The last time I checked, our taxes pay for people who sometimes REFUSE to work, to get welfare money. They openly stay pregnant so that they can get that easy cash because they don't/won't see a way out of their situation. I can't count the number of times that I have been behind welfare persons in the checkout line and wondered why I can't afford name brand clothes and shoes. I drive old vehicles with the sides dented in and cracked windshields because I can't afford a new car while a welfare recipient is driving a new model expensive vehicle decked out with all the accessories. And shall we discuss that lots of people on welfare manage to have cell phones, expensive computers, cable tv and go for weekly manicures and hairdresser appts? I would say that people who have the ability to work but choose not to work and make poor choices with their finances are more of a problem than a person incarcerated behind bars without a chance to get a job. Why aren't we teaching people how to be responsible stewards of money and resources so that they don't depend on handouts? And why am I seeing so much inmate bashing when people in the free world are not any different in their attitudes? Oh right, I forgot - prisoners are bad people.....

Perhaps so many people do not have personal knowledge of the prison system that these biases exist. The general public relies on the stereotypes perpetuated by the media to give them their info. And yet as nurses we dislike being portrayed by the media as sexy vixens on the nightshift ready to have an affair with the docs.

As an advocate for judicial and prison reform I am disheartened to see the number of nurses on this particular forum who perpetuate what I see inside the prisons - the blatant disregard and lack of respect for those entrusted to their care. In my work I have personally witnessed guards and prison personnel treating me so nice and respectfully and literally 2 minutes later being rude to a prisoner or the families that come to visit. Of course those families that come to visit are treated well if they are dressed as if they are wealthy. Those wearing clothing that might indicate a lower socioeconomic status are usually treated worse.

The vast majority of prisoners do not get first class care. I personally know of quite a few prisoners who have died because of the state's refusal to treat them. So often their complaints are ignored by even the medical staff. Most of the prison medical staff I have encountered feel exactly how people on this forum do - that prisoners don't deserve the care. A few medical staff I know have had to quit because of the poor treatment by fellow staff because they tried to make a difference in the lives of the incarcerated. Apparently it is not cool to care and too many don't know how to set boundaries that allow them to give compassionate, dignified care while not allowing truly manipulative people to cause problems. Hmmm, sounds kinda like the free world to me! There are many prisons that charge an inmate a copay to go to the infirmary - and they don't always get to see a licensed person either. I know of one doc who is in charge of 6 prisons. He knows that he doesn't get to see everyone that he should see because he has literally thousands of inmates to see.

Not everyone in prison is the punky gang banger with no regard for human life. I realize that TV gives that impression but it is WRONG! Many people are simply trying to live their lives and make a mistake that they and their families pay for dearly. Did you know that there are people executed and they never even killed anyone? Do you know how many families are homeless because Dad was in the wrong place at the wrong time and made a choice that caused him to be incarcerated because he couldn't afford an attorney? Yet I know of children of rich people who never go to jail for the same offense? There are also vast numbers of mentally ill person who never got the care that they needed to manage their illness. Mental illness doesn't just strike poor people either. The only reason you don't see wealthy people open about mental illness is because they have the money to get treatment or to hide that embarrassing relative from the public.

I can't tell you the number of nurses that have nearly run me off the road trying to get to work in a hurry, breaking numerous traffic laws. Yet they feel that they are better than a "felon". You'd be surprised at what can constitute a felony. Sorry, a law is a law and if you speed on the way to work you are not a law-abiding citizen.

Unfortunately most who read this will not care one whit about enlightening themselves to the true issues and work to help everyone. But I will continue to do my part to be an advocate for those who are unable to advocate for themselves and pray that none of you ever have need of my intervention should you or a loved one learn first hand about being in prison.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in PRISON and you came to visit me." "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:35,36,40

[mercyteapot]

I didn't know we were taking a vote for who is less worthy, TANF recipients or jailbirds. I do agree that prisoners are entitled to basic healthcare, but I also understand the frustration of those of us who break our backs paying for it and for Medicaid. Especially when a lot of us can't afford coverage for ourselves or our families. If healthcare is an entitlement for the poor and incarcerated, it should certainly be one for people who are contributing to the system, but that's for another thread, I suppose.

I support the concept of assistance, especially for families and humane treatment of prisoners. Seeing the system abused the way that it is feels disheartening, though, especially when it seems to favor those who won't help themselves over those who will.

[Suesquatch]

I simply don't support throwing people into a pit for the length of their sentence and letting them rot.

[RN1989]

Mercy, I understand your frustrations with our society. My family went without health insurance for many years even though I was working 4-5 12/s a week.

Our society as a whole is exactly like the state of healthcare. We get more and more regulations on how we should be giving better healthcare to our patients but this doesn't fix the problem. We should be addressing the lack of education/training, adequate staffing, etc. to get to the root of the problem. We would eliminate many of the problems without all the busywork. The same is true of our society. We should be educating people on money management, on preventive healthcare, giving them training for job skills, helping them with their physical and mental health needs, teaching them what is the proper way to interact with others. Were we to do this - the number of persons incarcerated as well as getting public assistance would be dramatically reduced. If everyone thought of others first instead of themselves, the greed of business would be reduced so that everyone would have at least the basic things that we now consider necessities. But then again, need is much different than want. You CAN live without electricity. It isn't fun but it is possible. Our ancestors lived without electricity and running water much longer than we have had that luxury. Many people in prisons aren't allowed the luxury of toilet paper or air conditioning or heating. Something we all take for granted.

I claim the Bible promises that say that if I return money to God and help to care for others, God will give me everything that I need. Need, not want - there is a difference. And although I get irritated with persons that take my tax dollars because they can't afford to see a doc because they have a fancy car payment, I know that I truly have what I need to live and survive in this world. I don't need a pretty car, I just need one that gets me to work. My house isn't fancy and is falling apart, but there are others who live in the alleys of our cities under homes of cardboard and tarps. If the general public would take a look around, many of the incarcerated and the homeless were once just like them. But circumstances went crazy, things spiralled out of control, and they found themselves in a bigger mess than they could handle.

Everyone decries racial prejudice and prejudice against handicapped persons, but no one thinks about those socially acceptable prejudices against the poor, the imprisoned, the new grad nurse that hasn't mastered the skills of a 20 year veteran nurse or the person that is just "different" (think mobbing like some of the threads on the forum). Just because it is the accepted norm to be biased against these groups does not make it right.

Unfortunately I do not see things getting any better on a global scale. I believe that the times reflect the Bible's teaching - people will become more evil and not know it. They will be selfish and unthinking and not realize that they are the part of the creeping compromise. I know that I must do my part as Jesus has admonished. And boy is it hard somedays not to fall in with the crowd - especially if the situation does not affect you directly. I cannot wait for the day that sin is abolished and we can all live in Heaven as the unselfish, caring people that we were intended to be.

[RN.38SPCL]

Wow, sure is alot of anger on this subject. I would think in every industry, nursing or otherwise, there are frustrations and humor that developes from those frustrations. That humor may not be funny to all, but is just a way to vent or cope. This started out to be about how you respond to others who have a problem with prisoners getting free healthcare. By The Way, How's My Font?

[onlyhope]

Originally Posted by RN.38SPCL

By The Way, How's My Font?

better!