60 Days In

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Is anyone watching this show (on A&E)? The inmates get their meds and walk away with them, then pool the drugs to get high. Why is nursing allowing that? I always assumed that prisons would be maniacal about meds being ingested with staff watching, and perhaps always using liquid formulations. Obviously, I'm way off- can anyone tell me what the usual practice is?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Sort of off-topic: The overly dramatic father of the father/ son duo? I want to slap him - he makes me nuts.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

Is anyone watching this show (on A&E)? The inmates get their meds and walk away with them, then pool the drugs to get high. Why is nursing allowing that? I always assumed that prisons would be maniacal about meds being ingested with staff watching, and perhaps always using liquid formulations. Obviously, I'm way off- can anyone tell me what the usual practice is?

Nursing staff should observe the inmate taking the medication. As far as using liquids, the sheer volume would make setting up for pill call a nightmare - besides the fact that liquid medications are almost always far more expensive than pills.

[JaiasMaregn]

This is not how it works at all! You do mouth checks after giving any med! And the meds that have high abuse potential are usually crushed before administration. If an inmate is caught cheeking a med (hiding it in mouth/cup) the med will likely be discontinued by the facility doctor

[riverlands]

Nope we have a "crush and float" policy for commonly cheeked meds. Crush it and pour it in a cup with water and they have to drink it. Works well