Bad Boys, Bad Boys... How do you handle them?

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Specializes in LTC, Correctional Nursing.

As Correctional Nurses, we know that the behavior and language is not always pleasant in this type of environment. So... just a couple of questions about a few issues that are constant problems that I have to deal with... How do you handle these issues?

1. When you have a habitual "gunner" how do you handle that when the CO chooses to look the other way? In other facilities that I have worked in, this was NOT tolerated... The COs won't even write a report for formal charges as in other facilities that I have worked in. They don't do anything at all but look the other way. When I try to make an issue out of it, they act like it was no big deal.

2. I can't stand it when every other word drops the "F bomb." I generally use the "3 strike" rule, so I usually say something like, "Could you not use that type of language around me please?" Usually that works, but if I have to say something again it's more like, "Okay, one more time and this conversation is over and you can address this another day and be charged for another sick call." In the beginning your always so wonderful and then when you do or say something that they don't like then your a ***** or some other colorful word. I don't take offense to it, it comes with the territory, but I just get sick of it sometimes.

I have been working in corrections for a long time and these seem to be the biggest issue... well, besides the fact that the PM med pass takes about 5 hours to do in a jail that houses only about 360 people. I have worked in metro jails that house over 3000 and only took like 2-3 hours for the med pass... I am ready to just leave this place... I have not been impressed since I walked in the door. I have been at this particular facility for almost 3 months and everything is so backwards there. It's so irritating that I just want to leave and never go back. It's ran like a daycare center rather than a jail.

Anyways... what are your thoughts?

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
1. When you have a habitual "gunner" how do you handle that when the CO chooses to look the other way? In other facilities that I have worked in, this was NOT tolerated... The COs won't even write a report for formal charges as in other facilities that I have worked in. They don't do anything at all but look the other way. When I try to make an issue out of it, they act like it was no big deal.

They had better be careful about this one. The Florida Department of Corrections lost a major lawsuit over this, and they wound up paying nurses thousands of dollars for not only ignoring the problem, but essentially telling nurses that they needed to grow a thicker skin and "that is just how inmates are."

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What is a gunner?

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Is it what I think it is? Lol.

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At my work, I can write conduct complaints (and enforce them) against inmates, and these may result in such punitive actions as segregation, lock down, loss of visitation, loss of commissary, etc. I may also give direction, commands, and orders to inmates to stop what they're doing (or do something else) within the department's policies. In the three months I've been there, believe me when I say, I have been the cause of a lot of penalties. I simply will not tolerate their (inmate) insolent, disrespectful, deceitful ways, moreover I will not stand idly by when they become disrespectful to other jail staff.

I also am capable of using defensive tactics and equipment (control techniques, takedowns, etc.; handcuffs, TASER, OC spray, firearms) should the need arise within the department's use of force guidelines, state law, and the Fourth Amendment and Eighth Amendments. Frankly, I can actually arrest them and yield new criminal charges as well, but that's due to a whole other privilege and responsibility that not even the jailers at my department, a sheriff's office, have.

As an aside, the types of people who often work in jails and prisons are frequently burned out, and very few of them "want" to work in that capacity. Many want to be police officers, are retired police officers, or couldn't become police officers for whatever reasons. Others just needed a job. They ALL fit in one of those four categories. They should do their jobs or go home, and I've told a few this despite being employed as the facility RN (with perks). They can definitely help and hinder you. Picking your battles is a requirement of life, but you definitely have a battle here. If you're not privileged with the ability to penalize inmates, direct jailers to take on certain tasks, etc. then you should really take this to the upper echelons because it's preventing you from doing your job to the best of your ability. If you get no assistance, put in adequate notice and leave. I say this because I started law enforcement working in a jail for a few months before moving on to be a patrol officer and on from there including admin and personnel management. I have only been a RN for about 18 months - most of that time spend in the acute, hospital setting. Even this is not a career for me, yet it was a job I wanted to do more than the one I had been doing (at the hospital), and before I was even hired I told the sheriff I would not stay for more than two years. If I ever find myself in such a predicament you are in I will do just what I have suggested to you.

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
What is a gunner?

An inmate who masturbates in plain view, especially of female staff.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Yeah, it's happened to me before. I ignore it & then go by the policy of where I am working. I started working with CHC (only been there 3 days so I haven't seen it yet).

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If you get hit by a gunner in my state it's battery II (felony). Definitely not something to turn a blind eye to.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
If you get hit by a gunner in my state it's battery II (felony). Definitely not something to turn a blind eye to.

I've never been hit before, just had them do the action.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Good Gawd, I will definitely stay in acute care nursing. :cyclops:

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Good Gawd, I will definitely stay in acute care nursing. :cyclops:

While most of us avoid that like the plague

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Good Gawd I will definitely stay in acute care nursing. :cyclops:[/quote']

Oooh! That's what I'm thinking! Had no idea what the term meant, now I WISH I didn't!

Anne, RNC

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