Safe nurse to pt ratios

Specialties Correctional

Published

Hi there! I was just recently hired on at a local jail and I have a few questions for those of you who have worked at a correctional facility for a while. So a week before I started the ENTIRE medical staff quit (they claim they were forced out). The administration tried to negotiate with them to stay and train a few of the new nurses that were just hired. They refused. Ive worked there for a total of 3 days and me and 1 other nurse are the longest nurses there currently. Here are a few of my concerns. 1) I alone pass meds to around 180 inmates. It's hard to do and I feel like thats an unsafe amount. 2) There is no DON because she quit as well. I am an LPN and am supposed to work under the direct supervision of a RN but there is only one RN that has been there for only 2 weeks now and only works 4 hours twice a week. 3) I worry about my license as ive never worked as a nurse before and where there isnt an RN to supervise me. It's been a crazy mess as the nurses that are quitting have made it a very hostile environment and refuse to train me and have quit reordering medications and basically quit doing their jobs. It's really frustrating. ANY advice is welcomed! thanks!

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

I once passed meds to 350 inmates every night in a medium security prison.

As far as the rest of the situation goes, in all honesty I would leave this position. The facility is in crisis mode, and it is not likely to improve soon. The lack of an RN on premises is particularly troubling. If the entire medical staff quit, they have been having problems for a while, and they weren't addressing them. That isn't likely to change either. Things had to be pretty bad for everyone to leave at the same time.

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Thank you for your response! Good to know 180 is an unusual amount? Do you pre-pop your meds?

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

We pre-poured except for controlled meds.

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what location is this? i am asking because there was some sort of exodus at a place i was offered a position at, also.

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Where did you apply?

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