[brian]

BELVIDERE | A pregnant inmate hiding crack cocaine in a body cavity may have distributed the drug to other Warren County jail inmates as corrections officials did nothing, according to allegations in a lawsuit filed by three former nurses at the jail.

Deputy Warden Robert Brothers and a classification officer at the jail learned about the cocaine on Jan. 13, yet nothing was done about it for two days, according to the suit.

Three former employees -- Deborah Capasso, Vicki Hartman and Pamela Rapp -- filed the wrongful termination lawsuit Tuesday in state Superior Court.

The three nurses worked for Correctional Health Services, a medical service under contract with the county to provide medical care for inmates at the jail.

Full Story: Ex-jail nurses sue county [The Express Times,PA]

[pickledpepperRN]

Does anyone know what whistle blower protection exists for nurses, public employees, or reporting child endangerment in New Jersey?

[sayitgirl]

Originally Posted by brian

BELVIDERE | A pregnant inmate hiding crack cocaine in a body cavity may have distributed the drug to other Warren County jail inmates as corrections officials did nothing, according to allegations in a lawsuit filed by three former nurses at the jail.

Deputy Warden Robert Brothers and a classification officer at the jail learned about the cocaine on Jan. 13, yet nothing was done about it for two days, according to the suit.

Three former employees -- Deborah Capasso, Vicki Hartman and Pamela Rapp -- filed the wrongful termination lawsuit Tuesday in state Superior Court.

The three nurses worked for Correctional Health Services, a medical service under contract with the county to provide medical care for inmates at the jail.

Full Story: Ex-jail nurses sue county [The Express Times,PA]

I worked at a local jail and the problems I experience were a hostile work environment for both the nurses and clients, This included negative behavior from the DON. One example: A new nurse was screamed at and humilated in the presence of inmates by the DON because they clocked in and went to get something from the cafeteria before it closed to start their shift.
I think that it would be better if the health services went back to being part of the government instead of contracted services.

[cluetemom]

Whew tough situation, I worked for CMS briefly,,didn't like 3rd world nursing and low pay, conditions in the prison I worked at were horrible... I was called Medicated Cotton by the CO's as I cared. Correctional nursing is tough, you take alot of risks just being there. There isn't a lot of respect given and most of the inmates are masters manipulators. Hope this gets totally investigated and the fired nurses get some sort of compensation if it is deserved.

[deathnurse]

This is yet another reason to tell your friends to stay out of nursing.

[jays]

I have been reading the previous post and I am not familiar with "Don" is it a acrynom for something. Please explain.

[jays]

Never mind that last question, Director of nursing, took me a minute, OOPs!