Correctional nursing hmmmm....

NiceNurse · Jun 12, 2005

Seems like there should be some sort of OSHA regulation regarding placing an employee in immediate danger of physical harm or even death.

I'm not sure I will continue in corrections nursing just for this reason.

Yes this has happened to me on several occasions. They would send me the diabetics-There would be between 8-10 male diabetic inmates and they would "forget" to send a CO with them. I did not appreciate it. :angryfire

jamangel · Jun 13, 2005

Seems like there should be some sort of OSHA regulation regarding placing an employee in immediate danger of physical harm or even death.
I'm not sure I will continue in corrections nursing just for this reason.

I don't think there is any regulation. It's suppose to be in their (DOC) policy. In the jails, it wasn't so bad.

jerryh55 · Jun 14, 2005

Just wanted to add a little different perspective on this thread. In aug. I start my second year of a two year ADN program. My job that supports my nursing school is as a CO in high security of a maximum security prison in Texas.

First, as far as CYA. Policy states that as a co your primary function with any medical problem is to call your shift rank. Generally a SGT. Inform them of whats going on and let them call medical, and medical decides if they need to be seen right then. On a few occassions, they will tell us to call medical since high security has its own medical dept, and we know most of them. We infrom them of whats going on, or what an inmate is complaining of. They know the inmates and decide whether hes just wanting out for a bit, or has a problem. Sometimes all they want is to come see the nurses that work medical. We are not there to judge as to whether an inmate has a real problem or not. Thats not our call. Once Im have made that call, and the inmate gets really irrate about it, I call rank and let them deal with it.

Secondly for the poster who said she had been left alone with an inmate. This is totally unacceptable in our unit. Our CO's would never leave a female medical person alone with an inmate. We are always within 2 feet of any inmate in medical, and they are always kept in hand restraints. My suggestion to you would be to file a formal complaint with your dept head and let them go to the security side and file that complaint. Even more important than being a violation of policy, It's just not the right thing to do. Voice your concerns now.

Sorry for the lenght and hope you realize this story actually has more than 2 sides to it.

Have A Great Day And Be Safe

Jerry

jamangel · Jun 14, 2005

Just wanted to add a little different perspective on this thread. In aug. I start my second year of a two year ADN program. My job that supports my nursing school is as a CO in high security of a maximum security prison in Texas.
First, as far as CYA. Policy states that as a co your primary function with any medical problem is to call your shift rank. Generally a SGT. Inform them of whats going on and let them call medical, and medical decides if they need to be seen right then. On a few occassions, they will tell us to call medical since high security has its own medical dept, and we know most of them. We infrom them of whats going on, or what an inmate is complaining of. They know the inmates and decide whether hes just wanting out for a bit, or has a problem. Sometimes all they want is to come see the nurses that work medical. We are not there to judge as to whether an inmate has a real problem or not. Thats not our call. Once Im have made that call, and the inmate gets really irrate about it, I call rank and let them deal with it.
Secondly for the poster who said she had been left alone with an inmate. This is totally unacceptable in our unit. Our CO's would never leave a female medical person alone with an inmate. We are always within 2 feet of any inmate in medical, and they are always kept in hand restraints. My suggestion to you would be to file a formal complaint with your dept head and let them go to the security side and file that complaint. Even more important than being a violation of policy, It's just not the right thing to do. Voice your concerns now.
Sorry for the lenght and hope you realize this story actually has more than 2 sides to it.
Have A Great Day And Be Safe
Jerry

Bottom line is that really depends where you work. I find in my experience that security is more slack in the jail than in the prison. I'm sure that CO's,like deputies, slack off a little too. Again, it depends on where you are working. It's definitely not EVERY CO as a whole or EVERY deputy as a whole. In a case where you are left alone with an inmate, as well as in my case, a formal c/o should be filed. I did and it did very little. All facilities as well as States are different. All stories do have more than 2 sides to it.

Blackcat99 · Jun 14, 2005

At the prison where I was left alone with inmates :angryfire the CO's were paid poorly and were understaffed.Some of the CO's were angry and resentful towards the nurses because the nurses were making more money than they were. At the jail where I was never left alone with an inmate the CO's were paid much better. :)

jamangel · Jun 17, 2005

.

At the prison where I was left alone with inmates :angryfire the CO's were paid poorly and were understaffed.Some of the CO's were angry and resentful towards the nurses because the nurses were making more money than they were. At the jail where I was never left alone with an inmate the CO's were paid much better. :)

I do prefer the jail though

nurse1986 · Jun 24, 2005

Hey guys, I have been an LPN for about a year now. Before this I was a CNA for 3 years in a LTC and I currently work there as an LPN. Anyways I am looking for something a little different and I was considering correctional nursing. A local female prison is hiring and pay relatively well for this area. The main thing I am concerned about is having to detach myself emotionally from my work. Working in a LTC has made me very compassionate about nursing and I love getting to know my patients and getting close to them, I like the family enviroment, but I am thinking that in a prison setting you'd have to be very cold and detached and I'm not sure I would like that. Is this how you have to be? or is it just me stereotyping? Also what are some perks and some downfalls to this field? Thanks! :)

Hey there LPN , go for it and ya don't have to lose that Nancy Nurse thing because I am a Nancy and I am a Nurse I worked max , death row for a few years and it was great . the one thing ya need to keep in mind is . they are there for a reason, they broke the law. and you are there to give medical attentioin. Not to be there friend but to be a nurse .

Going in the very first day ya have to set your own ground rules . ( I am here to do a job, as a nurse) and if given a chance most of the inmates will hurt ya, not as fast as the C.O.'s but they can and will if ya let your gaurd down. never go without a C.O. and always listen to what the C.O. says . Keep your distance and keep your head up. Be prof and trerat them with respect for they are people even tho they brole the law.

It is a great job and alot of satrange things happen and Hve fun I did

nurse1986 · Jun 24, 2005

Hey there LPN , go for it and ya don't have to lose that Nancy Nurse thing because I am a Nancy and I am a Nurse I worked max , death row for a few years and it was great . the one thing ya need to keep in mind is . they are there for a reason, they broke the law. and you are there to give medical attentioin. Not to be there friend but to be a nurse .

Going in the very first day ya have to set your own ground rules . ( I am here to do a job, as a nurse) and if given a chance most of the inmates will hurt ya, not as fast as the C.O.'s but they can and will if ya let your gaurd down. never go without a C.O. and always listen to what the C.O. says . Keep your distance and keep your head up. Be prof and trerat them with respect for they are people even tho they brole the law.

It is a great job and alot of satrange things happen and Hve fun I did

nurse1986 · Jun 24, 2005

Hey there LPN , go for it and ya don't have to lose that Nancy Nurse thing because I am a Nancy and I am a Nurse I worked max , death row for a few years and it was great . the one thing ya need to keep in mind is . they are there for a reason, they broke the law. and you are there to give medical attentioin. Not to be their friend but to be a nurse .

Going in the very first day ya have to set your own ground rules . ( I am here to do a job, as a nurse) and if given a chance most of the inmates will hurt ya, not as fast as the C.O.'s but they can and will if ya let your gaurd down. never go without a C.O. and always listen to what the C.O. says . Keep your distance and keep your head up. Be prof and trerat them with respect for they are people even tho they brole the law.

It is a great job and alot of satrange things happen and Hve fun I did

marylyric · Nov 18, 2005

.
I do prefer the jail though

I have a interview today for a job with county jail who contracts with CMS.

I am wondering whether I should accept this position if offered. My Concerns

are safety. Will I be left alone with inmates? Are they always in restraints?

How much HIV will I encounter in a jail area? etc?

Blackcat99 · Nov 18, 2005

I have a interview today for a job with county jail who contracts with CMS.
I am wondering whether I should accept this position if offered. My Concerns
are safety. Will I be left alone with inmates? Are they always in restraints?
How much HIV will I encounter in a jail area? etc?

Go for it . Working in a jail is very interesting. Hopefully, you will have good correctional officers and they will not leave you alone with inmates. Inmates are not always in restraints. Hopefully, the officers will know which ones need to be handcuffed and will do so. Working in a jail is a very exciting job. Have fun.:balloons:

marylyric · Nov 18, 2005

Go for it . Working in a jail is very interesting. Hopefully, you will have good correctional officers and they will not leave you alone with inmates. Inmates are not always in restraints. Hopefully, the officers will know which ones need to be handcuffed and will do so. Working in a jail is a very exciting job. Have fun.:balloons:

I interviewed for the job in jail. This is a detention center with' infirmary

with quite a few nurses. Is there anyone who is familiar with this setting?