afraid of losing my liscense

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Hello everyone! I have a few concerns about the correctional facility I work at. First, the rns do not want to be bothered by me calling them concerning an inmates problem. If an inmate is complaining of chest pain the protocal in our facility is to have the inmate get an ekg. The rns are responsible to do this. Eventhough an inmate may have heart burn, the protocal is for the rn to do an ekg. The rns continuously push the lpns to restate in the encounter forms what the inmate actually states. For example... Inmate c/o chest pain. Rn says restate as chest discomfort to avoid the inmate causing the rn to do an ekg. I'm really sick of jeopardizing my liscense for their laziness. Are the rns like this at most correctional facilities? I work nights so it could be night shift rns. The day shift rns where I work don't have a problem with seeing an inmate. Maybe cause the don is still in the building. My second concern is the cleanliness at the jail. The inmates clean their own cells. This is not done on a regular basis. Toilets aren't clean regularly, floors are used from cell to cell with same mop water. The inmates are always getting skin infections. The inmates always think "spider bite", but rarely is one bitten by a spider. The inmates say we have the worst facility in florida. Some of you out there may know where I work. Anyways I'm just wandering does any facility out there gets sanitized. Well I guess I can post my other concerns later. Theres just too much to list. Thanks to all for reading.

Specializes in Neuro trauma ICU, Flight Nurse.

I can see a few inmates partying over the massage idea!!!!!! LOLOLOLOL I'm thinking that Florida is probably not the place you want to go for tough love there, blackcat! :rotfl:

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nursecatnfl, the RN is ultimately in charge. In have been in corrections for a few years and LPNs do not make those kind of assessments. If an inmate c/o chest pain you report it and the RN assess the inmate and makes a determination. Yes they have the responsibility to LISTEN to what you tell them. Your observations are part of the assessment backbone. You reported and you have done what is expected, if something goes wrong it is NOT YOUR fault, fault rests with the RN.

As far as cleanliness goes, cleaning is done by inmate porters in my facility. Their work is supervised by a Housekeeping Supervisor. If there is a question regarding cleanliness I report it to them. (My responsibility done during the day.) During the evening an HCA (Hospital Care Aide) may clean rooms for admission or messes on the floor.

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I am a pediatric nurse whose son is in jail for his third DUIL and waiting for boot camp. He will go to prison if it happens again. He is only 23 years old. I know he needs to straignten up his act. I know drinking and driving can kill someone, but he is not a hard core criminal. He has a one year old daughter. Even though I am very frustrated with him, I love him. I am appalled at some of those who call themselves nurses with their attitude. I always wondered how healthcare is in jails. Yes I can see how it could be frustrating for the nurses who have to care for the sex offenders, murderers, etc. I get frustrated with the child abuse. I want to know that my son will be taken care of. God will take care of the offenders in the end. I pray my son will swear off booze and straighten his life around. I would hope he is getting help and not shunned. I just couldn't believe some of the stuff I read. This could be your son, daughter, brother or sister. I pray my son will be safe everyday. I want to know his health will be taken care of. I could go on and on and on.....I just couldn't believe some of the posts.:crying2: :crying2: :crying2: :crying2:

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I am not trying to be mean, but reality is that if he has been busted 3 times for this, then yes, there is a problem and yes, he is a criminal. I was hit by a driver who was DUI. Thank god me and my child werent hurt too bad. Maybe if he isnt ready for AA or NA, you could at least go to them for help in dealing with your son and the emotions that go along with it. I wish you the best, I really do, but to say that after 3 DUI he isnt a criminal is just wrong in my opinion....

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I do believe he is a criminal don't get me wrong, but I feel he should be treated medically while in jail. Believe me, I have had discussions with him regarding killing someone and I would have a hard time if he did. I guess what I'm saying is that if he is sick, I hope that someone, a nurse, will give him good care. If not, that nurse should not be there. Like I said I have had to take care of an abused child whose accused perpetrator was not jailed yet, and I am expected to treat them as I would others. By no means am I condoning what my son does, I would just like to know he will be treated if he needs it. I pray he still has a chance to turn around.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

It's not our job to punish prisoners - nurses are there to provide needed care. It's a fact that some prisoners sabotage those efforts with false reporting, but that just means assessment skills have to be extra sharp. and protocols should be followed.

Shayne, I believe your son will be treated properly when in jail. I hope he learns from this experience and that he is exceedingly grateful for not killing someone in one of his DUIs. I hope you are getting some support as well.

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As a nurse in a local county jail, I have a motto "My job is to keep you healthy, not happy". Medical problems are addressed according to need just as triage nurses do at hospitals. If there is any question at all regarding an inmate's condition, they get transported to the ER for evaluation.

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I am an RN who hasn't been in correctional nursing that long, but I can tell you that the I/Ms I see have access to good health care. They probably get better chronic disease care because they don't have to worry about coming up with the money to buy their meds. It doesn't take you long to learn to have a high degree of suspicion about any complaint that would involve a trip outside the gates(ER) or analgesics.

As for treating I/M different because of their offense, it's best not to know what anyone did.

I pray this young man does straighten himself out. But, remember, it is ultimately HIS responsibility/decision, not yours. I see so many who try to blame their circumstances on everyone and everything but their own bad judgement.:o

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I used to work in corrections. I still miss it. It was my favorite job. :)

Our protocol for chest pain also included an ECG. We gave one ASA, antacid, ran the ECG, and started O2 @ 2. I say follow the protocol and let the higher ups sort it out. Chest pain was taken more seriously than any other complaint at the prison. It was also the most frequently abused complaint, likely because the inmates knew they could get out of their cell at 3AM and maybe even get a trip to the outside. A lot of times who is faking and who is not isn't so clear.

If you are reporting to an RN and they don't want to deal with it, I suppose it is finished since they are going to be the ones ultimately in charge. However, don't ever let them talk you into falsifying your documentation. YOU are in charge of what you write. Once it has been reported your hands are clean.

As a side note I can not fathom a filthy prison. The prisons I've been in would definitely rank as some (if not THE) cleanest buildings I've ever been in. The cleaning was so intense it was almost ridiculous. Even our telephones in the HSU got wiped down with bleach water Q shift. :chuckle

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I am sorry to any of you if you felt I was casting stones. I was just concerned about some of the things I had heard. Like I said I never bailed my son out of trouble, not once. But I do love my son and it breaks my heart every time I go and see him. I do not enjoy visiting him on the other side of the glass and if you knew the heart ache I felt, you would understand. It can happen to anyone's family member once alcohol takes over. I again apologize to those nurses who provide good nursing care in corrections.

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I think your son will get good care if he is sick. When I was talking about the "whiners" I was talking about the inmates who are always coming at night to medical complaining about something. It's amazing the many inmates that walk into medical who are laughing and joking with the officers and then are complaining of "chest pain". The officers are always making the comment "It's a beautiful night out for a walk". :chuckle

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i'm not understanding something??? do you have to send the inmates out somewhere for an ekg? or do you do them right there in the facility? i use to work in a prison and we did them sometimes but it wasn't much more that hooking up some leads and running a strip...it couldn't cost that much. and while you may be pissed off at whatever these inmates are in for that is not your job to worry about. you are a nurse and need to act like it without worrying about the cost of something or your tax money. if you don't do what you are suppose to then you won't have to worry about paying taxes because you won't have a job! i am not pro inmate by any means but i will not lose my license over one of them because i didn't do what was protocol just because i felt they were "whining". you never know..you may come across a "whiner" that just happens to be having an mi..and then what do you think will happen to you if you do nothing? my point exactly..do your job!

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