Handling remarks/comments

[KmtWLPN]

Any info or things to say that shows inmates that i will not tolerate any sexual/rude comments while still being professional?

My COs are normally on top of it, but I want to be firm as well.

Anybody have any insight?

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

For me, a simple "You need to knock that off" has sufficed most of the time.

[Neats, BSN]

MY one redirection come back is I am here to address your healthcare needs, your kite said you are having stomach pains (what ever they need) and I address what their needs are. If they continue their sexual banter I just tell them... I consider this your refusal and you can put another kite in if your still having stomach pain. When they know I will not tolerate their behavior they give up and move on.

[sarsett]

I usually just say something along the lines of "You need to stop. I expect you to show the same respect to me that I show you."

Then I ask what their medical concern is. If they continue the behavior I walk away and say "I'll come back later when you're ready to have a professional discussion."

I work in a psych inpatient program in prison, but not everyone there is acutely mentally ill. This response is generally used for inmates who are higher functioning or malingering, or have axis II personality disorders. If they're lower functioning I keep it shorter and redirect to talk only about their medical concerns.

Always keep a straight face, don't give them any kind of reaction (including laughing or looking upset). This really only eggs them on. But DO firmly tell them you're not here for them to talk to you like that. Generally this has been pretty effective for me, and if they don't stop just know there's probably nothing you can say professionally that would stop the behavior. Just move on and try again the next day!

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

A very direct "that's inappropriate. You need to stop and not say anything like that again." If it was significant a conduct report gets written by the officer accompanying me (I'm usually with one or more). I will end the appointment/interaction and consider it a refusal.

Document as appropriate in the chart.

It helps to think about what kind of situations might come up and what you might say. Practice out loud. Sometimes it's not rudeness. Sometimes they are just fishing for personal information, like what kind of music you like. Be prepared to not answer these kinds of questions too.

[Angelnraged]

I’ve worked corrections 2+ years. I find the best approach for me is to not acknowledge the behavior at all. They will say whatever they will, and I will stay on task, whatever it is, redirecting the conversation back to point. For example, things said during med pass. They insert their rude comments, and I simply say, take your medication or I will mark refused. If they continue I say, “OK. Refused” and walk away. Period. After a few rounds of this, the inmates learn fairly quick that I can not be rattled. Corrections nursing is a different kind of nursing. You have to turn off everything you’ve learned about being nurturing. Do I care? Of course I do. Do they know this? Absolutely not. Like another poster said, they study you. All they have is time. They are bored, manipulative, some even malicious. So it’s up to you to put that barrier in place. And once you leave the block, everything that’s been said to you there must stay there. I don’t have conversations with these people. They are not my friends. I’m not rude per se. If they tell me good morning, I will respond in kind. But above that, we do not interact on a social type basis. If they want to tell me they have a rash at meg pass, clearly I can see they aren’t in distress and I direct them to put in a sick call. We discuss nothing. Set your rules in place and don’t break or bend them.