Calling the Warden on Inappropriate Inmates

[LittleTwinStars, ADN, BSN]

Working in county hospital ERs, I have worked with several inmates. Many are respectful, but I have also received inappropriate sexual innuendos and hostile comments. Only a few inmates are escorted by correctional officers. The rest are supervised by police officers or specially trained psych techs. Do I have the right to call the warden on disrespectful patients, like the one who made lewd motions for oral sex at me and another who laughingly played games with the staff by constantly refusing treatment and changing his mind about staying or going?

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I wouldn't think so. I would think that would be a privacy violation. Good opportunity to have an inservice regarding taking care of inmates.

The lewd motions would be met with "I am here to take care of your medical needs. Otherwise, I will ask for your discharge back to the facility".

The playing games thing would stop the first time. "Ok, since you are declining care you will be discharged back to the facility". Period.

Document well.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

You get prisoners without guards? That surprises me. If they are incarcerated they come with police or guards where I have worked. If they misbehave they are returned directly to jail by the guards. They aren't allowed to play games.

You MUST ignore them. They are purposefully trying to get a reaction. Pretend you don't see them and they mean nothing. GO about your business like they are sitting there smiling pleasantly. They are in prison for a reason.

thread moved for best response.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Agree with Esme's post above ... I have cared for a steady stream of county jail and state prison inmates, and all have been accompanied by at least 2 corrections officers, without exception. Inappropriate behavior is immediately handled by the COs and therefore lasts about 2 seconds, on the very rare occasion that it does occur.

Persons under arrest but not yet incarcerated can be much more volatile, as they are in a state of crisis where the outcome is uncertain. But in the company of a police officer who has made the arrest and will be completing the process of disposition whether citation by mail or jail ... misbehavior directed toward ED staff would certainly be counterproductive.