How easy is it to lose a license in correctional setting?

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Jun 10, 2015

It was not something that I enjoyed doing, but it is something that I would do again without hesitation under similar circumstances. I helped to remove an unsafe nurse from practice. The hardest part was that she is very likeable - which may have allowed her to get away with things for longer than she normally would have. I found out later that her coworkers often covered for her rather than to report some of the things that they noticed. There is also a strong suspicion that there was an underlying substance abuse problem.

I tried everything that I could think of to salvage this nurse. I talked to her about the employee assistance program, I tried different assignments, nothing worked. In the end, she did herself in. I only hope that she has gotten whatever help that she needed.

Tina, RN · Jun 11, 2015

is there any company that covers correctional nurses for liability insurance? I too had NSO, only to find out this specialty is not covered.

Whoa!!! Good to know...

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jun 11, 2015

Whoa!!! Good to know...

There is this:

Ultra Correctional Health Program Insurance from Ultra Risk Advisors

That's what I found while on my phone. I'm sure with more searching there is other malpractice insurance for correctional healthcare workers.

R Kenneth ONeal, LPN · Jun 17, 2015

Ive worked as a Corrections Nurse and I was mortified at the care that my preceptor gave (dropping meds on the floor in front of patients, then giving it to them, etc) From my perspective, its pretty hard to lose a license in this setting. Many boards don't want to take your license as its understood that your bread and butter lies here. However, if there lies an egregious enough offense, a strike could occur. Losing a license on a single offense happens when diversion occurs, but other than that, its difficult to outright lose a license without "strikes" placed. Even then, there are generally opportunities to get your license back. Shoddy nursing and ambivalence abounded in the facilities that I worked in, Corrections wise. Hopefully, this is an anomaly. R. Kenneth O'Neal (Doctoral Candidate-Ed.D) MHA, BSHS, LPN, AA, EMT-B

f1j1nurse · Jun 22, 2015

4th year in corrections, worked both in county jail and now state prison...Never been sued.

f1j1nurse · Jun 22, 2015

4th year in corrections, worked both in county jail and now state prison...Never been sued.

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Jun 22, 2015

I have seen many inmates denied medications that they depended on all because of egotistical practices. I've seen a long term addict on a LOW dose of suboxone he had only been on for a year and was in the process of weaning to be drug free when he was jailed for child support. They stopped him cold turkey and on Day three. He had food in his mouth when he had a seizure and aspirated. Now he's permanently disabled. I've seen a ton of hard core alcoholics in the ER in full blown withdrawal when they have the ability to place the inmate on an alcohol protocol but refused to. I have seen officers laugh at them. Inmates with major surgery denied pain meds. If there's anyone that deserves to lose their license it's these sickos.

PG2018 · Jun 23, 2015

I managed a county jail clinic, while pursuing my master's, and although my license has never been in peril - I am still getting calls from my US Marshal contacts, from that time period, telling me they've got more papers for me. I've long since moved and have become what seems a frequent face to a local Deputy Marshal they'll mail them to him now. I go to him to get served rather than making him come to my house. When I was in the jail, they'd come to my office there and serve me. It has never been an issue or in the least bit adversarial. I've been sued many times, never singularly, for violating 8th Amendment Rights and always a party with the jail administrator, sheriff, and random jailers. I spoke with the sheriff's office's attorney's secretary on the first occasion to ascertain if I didn't need to do anything and since that time everything has always been handled for me, and beyond that I've never done anything. None of the health-related suits have ever been of substance. (The most recent one was my "failure" to administer psychotropic medication that was never ordered or prescribed.) Most inmates will represent themselves, and unless the violation is rather heinous then it generally involves some back and forth correspondence before the inmate loses interest or ability, and the matter fizzles out. Some of them are quite entertaining.

I liked the administrative nature of the job, and I enjoyed the environment. The less than enjoyable role was the frequency with which I had to write replies to grievances and other documents.

PG2018 · Jun 23, 2015

Whoa!!! Good to know...

I had NSO when I was a RN, and I even made a claim on it when I worked in a jail. They investigated their part and didn't say anything about refusing coverage. As it happened, the suit was bogus, and I never contacted them subsequently for any further suit because the grounds of the suits are always ridiculous.

RNforLongTime · Jun 28, 2015

Well...where I work, we are unionized. Our Union has saved too many of our nurses' butt for egregious errors. The last one involved narcotics. That nurse is only being punished with a suspension..AND over the HOLIDAY weekend no less...so, how is THAT punishment? it's not really. Because this nurse feels that they didn't do anything wrong, they being the nurse in question.

What's also funny is that us RN's and the LPN's have different unions :/

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Jul 27, 2015

I have a per diem job in a women's prison. The state provides malpractice insurance to employees and contractors.

Jmats · Aug 6, 2015

Document everything! ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½