[brian]

LARGO - In her 22 years as a nurse, Susan Livorini has worked triple shifts just so a hospice patient with AIDS wouldn't have to die alone.



When she started work at the Pinellas County Jail, her heart naturally went out to some women inmates, she told internal affairs investigators.

She even gave a few of them hugs. For that she has been reprimanded.

Full Story: http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB09FXT21E.html

[ktwlpn]

She says in the article that she "is a hugger" My common sense tells me that 2 settings that are not right for that type of personality would be corrections and drug and alcohol rehab...I'm a "hugger" too-and I give them out freely in LTC-except to the younger folks or the really horny little old men-they get shoulder rubs and arm pats....I work in a county run facility and we have inmates from the prison come in and work during the day in the maintenance and central supply areas..We have clear cut policies regarding our conduct and it is primarily for OUR protection ...Often just the appearance of a situatin can be mis-interpreted by an observer....Can't be too careful....

[Farkinott]

This misguided woman is a first class idiot!

[Nurse Ratched]

You have to admire the hell out of someone who truly puts her judgements aside. We talk about it a lot here, but she apparently practices it.

That said, she probably shouldn't be working in corrections. Hugs can be misconstrued. This is one population where keeping patients "at a distance" is vital for your physical safety as well as professionalism.

[slinkeecat]

Oh My...

A little human kindness for the DYING.... let's just burn her at the stake... She is not a misguided idiot.... She is a Nurse. Not even on my best day, could I put aside my differences when it comes to child molesters and rapists.

She should follow her facility's policy... She broke a rule, she was reprimanded, Let's not asasinate her character.....

[Quickbeam]

Before I was an RN I was a probation officer for 10 years. We had very strict guidelines about not touching offenders. I also worked in corrections and it was the same. Sometimes you need to restrain your natural impulses. In a prison setting, something innocent can become dangerous very quickly. There are generally no-contact rules for a reason.

[veteranRN]

I wholeheartedly agree. Yes we are nurses but we are professionals and we should be able to distinguish between what is appropriate in different settings. I may sound harsh but she gets no sympathy from me (I would be hard pressed to give her a hug right now)

[Mama Val]

As a Correctional Nurse and a former Correctional Officer all I can say is, lady you need to work somewhere else. Small piece of advice, you really shouldn't be putting your arms around rapists and murderers who won't take their meds unless they get that special touch from you, one day that little hug will not be enough and they will want more. What are you gonna give them when the hug just isn't enough??? As a Corrections Officer I don't want to be the one who gets hurt breaking up the fight when the inmate is trying to kiss or cop a feel from the nurse because everybody knows "she's a hugger".
This kind of stuff relly irkes me (can you tell) If the inmate won't take their medication ( and it seems that this is the bribe she was accused of using to get them to do so) document their refusal and move on, they are adults and should not be coerced into compliance. Inmate love to play games, they have lots of time on their hands and love to see what they could get away with or make you do for them. Now don't get me wrong I have given a hug but I can count the times on 1 hand and its because an inmate's immediate family member died and they were just informed of the death. When someones child is killed and they are crying their eyes out a hug at that time is acceptable (with correctionals officers in the room).
I am gonna show my boss this article and he will love it, he would have fired her if she did that more than 1 time after being warned not to.

[jwk]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ratched

You have to admire the hell out of someone who truly puts her judgements aside. We talk about it a lot here, but she apparently practices it.

Some just talk the talk - others actually walk the walk.

I agree, it's probably not a great idea considering the surroundings - but a little compassion in some places goes a long way.

[TriageRN_34]

I don't hug...but I have one heck of a compassionate look I use guarenteed to get my message of being quite human across! I also show things via my actions...like simply grabbing a tissue and giving it at the right time, ordering a tray for the room, asking if they would like to listen to music or tv...straightening a bed, giving a cool cloth...those types of things.

But in corrections...oh man no way!!!!