Irritating coworker -RANT

nancykday · Sep 18, 2007

I am not sure how to address your concerns re: your co worker. As far as her insistance that she is in charge when she is working, she is the more senior and experience correctional nurse. I not familiar with Fl DOC, but in my state, we are unionized and seniority takes precidents. Have you tried addressing your concerns to your supervisor. Maybe he/she can mediate a more functional work environment.

As far as the copay, once again I cannot speak for Florida, but in our DOC this is a state legislative mandate that the i/m are to pay a co pay for access to certain health care services. There are more

exclusions, that inclusions, but requests for urgent and/or nonemergent healthcare access does require a minimal health care charge. These were instituted by the legislature to attempt to decrease abuse of medical services. Although on the surface, it may appear that will deter i/m with minimal financial resorces from accessing healthcare; but in reality the i/m must decide between healthcare or commissary. I hate to sound cynical, but they already have 3 hots and a cot and are not financially responsible for anything else.

I hope this experience will not sour your correctional career. You sound like a caring and compassionate individual and can be an asset to corrections.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to PM me.

donsterRN, ASN, BSN · Sep 18, 2007

I'm not clear how she can be in charge if you were hired for "charge". She might need to be taken down a bit...

VegRN · Sep 18, 2007

I have been hired as 11-7 RN. this is a charge nurse position... problem is, I work with another snotty RN who on the first day very rudely and stottily made it very cleaar that when we work together, she is ALWAYS in charge. She speaks like **** to the inmates and the Officers. When she is not verbalizing explicits, she talks about her sex life.. she has like 5 kids to diff daddy's and brags about the child support, and makes commenets that she colects kids and money.. and makes it a point that men buy her everything. She loves to talk about her boobs and how they are "still purky" after 5 kids. She cusses and screams to the inmates and disrespects the officers. (in my facility.. the offers run the house)
EX: chest pain in the pod.. she will not respond to the signal.. she may send a med tech or even have a med tech accompany the inmate to the infirmary. She always charges a bill for a walk in, which in my mind will discourage those to come to medical that really need it. Our inmates have very little mney on their canteen, and to be charged a 30.00 bill, and bot even begiven tylonal is BS>

She sounds like a trashy individual, in fact I bet a good portion of the inmates show more class and self respect than her. And thats saying a lot.

Have you gotten a feel for what the higher ups think of her? Her judgement sounds impaired if she isn't responding to a chest pain call. Sounds like she cares more about getting attention than doing her job. What if the CP is the real deal, it does happen every now and then. I would review your policies rt the charging of inmates, who is in charge, etc. What does the official policy say. Stick by that.

Report her for the things she is doing that break policy if this is necessary. You may not get very far depending on how strong the nurse protection is i.e union and what not.

Oh, and don't expect to be a very popular person if you decide that her behaviour is reportable.

texascowgirl · Sep 18, 2007

welcome to the world of correctional health, where, as much as i hate to admit it, you are likely to find, in any correctional facility, some unprofessional nurses....and it's one of the few areas where they can get away with being unprofessional.

i am willing to bet that she feels insecure around you-she probably doesnt have a strong background in acute care facilities as you might.

that has always been the problem with me-i have worked correctional health on and off, and have a strong ER and critical care background-i can get hired on at any Level I Trauma Center with my curriculum vitae.

the reality is, that there are some nurses in correctional health that work there, not by choice, but because they cant work anywhere else, except maybe LTC facilities........

i dont have any advice for you. i doubt you will be able to change things-if she's been there for a while, don't expect her to leave.

just do your thing. continue working as the professional that you are, and set an example, be a role model...in the long run, you will develop respect in the facility-respect from officers and inmates

Monica RN,BSN · Sep 20, 2007

i am not sure how to address your concerns re: your co worker. as far as her insistance that she is in charge when she is working, she is the more senior and experience correctional nurse.
i totally agree regarding seniority. that is certainly understandable. problem is she is on a power trip and has no respect from the officers and inmates because of her very rude and cussing personality
i not familiar with fl doc, but in my state, we are unionized and seniority takes precidents. have you tried addressing your concerns to your supervisor. maybe he/she can mediate a more functional work environment. yes i have. thank-you for that thought
as far as the copay, once again i cannot speak for florida, but in our doc this is a state legislative mandate that the i/m are to pay a co pay for access to certain health care services. thank you for that insight. i did not know that some states mandate a co-pay.
there are more exclusions, that inclusions, but requests for urgent and/or nonemergent healthcare access does require a minimal health care charge. these were instituted by the legislature to attempt to decrease abuse of medical services. although on the surface, it may appear that will deter i/m with minimal financial resorces from accessing healthcare; but in reality the i/m must decide between healthcare or commissary. i hate to sound cynical, but they already have 3 hots and a cot and are not financially responsible for anything else.
you do not sound cynical. i understand your point. here in our county the i/m is charged a $20.00 booking fee, and $2.00 a day for meals. the food literally looks like dog food
i hope this experience will not sour your correctional career. you sound like a caring and compassionate individual and can be an asset to corrections.
if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to pm me.

thanks for your reply. i will not give up and i am strong enough to survive even this rude and tactless co-worker.. i really love working in corrections, and plan to stay a long time regardless

Monica RN,BSN · Sep 20, 2007

welcome to the world of correctional health, where, as much as i hate to admit it, you are likely to find, in any correctional facility, some unprofessional nurses....and it's one of the few areas where they can get away with being unprofessional.
i am willing to bet that she feels insecure around you-she probably doesnt have a strong background in acute care facilities as you might.
that has always been the problem with me-i have worked correctional health on and off, and have a strong er and critical care background-i can get hired on at any level i trauma center with my curriculum vitae.
the reality is, that there are some nurses in correctional health that work there, not by choice, but because they cant work anywhere else, except maybe ltc facilities........
i dont have any advice for you. i doubt you will be able to change things-if she's been there for a while, don't expect her to leave.
just do your thing. continue working as the professional that you are, and set an example, be a role model...in the long run, you will develop respect in the facility-respect from officers and inmates

thanks for your reply. that is a great post :)

nancykday · Sep 21, 2007

I'm intrested, what exactly is a "booking fee"?

As far as the food goes, the i/m do not pay for food, but even free food here still looks like dog food.

Are you a male/female prison, or is it exclusivly female? I work at a female jail and the food is appaling. At all the male prisons, the food is much better. I'm begining to wonder if female i/m tolerate poor food b/c they supplement food with commisary and cook their jail house casseroles. We have had riots in our state b/c of food over the years, but only at male facilities. Females here tolerate the food w/o complaint. Go figure.

OBTW, I'm the intake nurse at my facility, so I have been questioning the new commits re their medications at county since your original post. some counties require the i/m to provide their own meds from outside pharmacy, some require a $5 - $10 copay for their meds and others just provide the i/m w/o cost. Pretty much runs the gamut.

Monica RN,BSN · Sep 23, 2007

i'm intrested, what exactly is a "booking fee"?
our county charges the booking fee for the intake process, nurse clearance(i.e health assessment and vital signs. this fee also is part of fingerprinting and picture taking. i am told, however, that most all of the inmates can not, and do not pay their boarding fees. when released they are not held obligated to pay money owed to the county. what makes it bad, is that much like a checking account that is overdrawn, if a friend or family member is kind enough to pit money in the commissary, the money is taken by the jail towards accumulated booking and boarding fees.as far as the food goes, the i/m do not pay for food, but even free food here still looks like dog food.
are you a male/female prison, or is it exclusivly female? i work at a female jail and the food is appaling. at all the male prisons, the food is much better. i'm begining to wonder if female i/m tolerate poor food b/c they supplement food with commisary and cook their jail house casseroles. we have had riots in our state b/c of food over the years, but only at male facilities. females here tolerate the food w/o complaint. go figure.
obtw, i'm the intake nurse at my facility, so i have been questioning the new commits re their medications at county since your original post. some counties require the i/m to provide their own meds from outside pharmacy, some require a $5 - $10 copay for their meds and others just provide the i/m w/o cost. pretty much runs the gamut.

thanks for your reply

have a happy day

nancykday · Sep 23, 2007

That is pretty much the way it is in PA. If they are overdrawn in their account, Pa can assess the charges if they choose, but i don't think they do. Although, they do assess court costs and fines from their accounts.

Most of our womwn have penpals, (prison slang lepers) that they get money added to their accounts.

For fun, you should troll the prison pen pal accounts to see if there is anyone you are familiar with, I checkout the sites periodically for amusement.

We do not charge a booking fee, but I think alot of county corrections might. If the i/m disputes any charges to their account, they can and do request a review, and may or may not have the charges credited to their account.

JailRN · Sep 23, 2007

OUR booking fee is $122.00 Trustees, earn $2.00/$3.00 a day.

We don't charge for medical, psych, and the dental is only extractions, no dentures, hearing aids, sex changes, heart transplants, etc.

Good luck with you coworker...maybe her attitude is WHY there was a charge nurse postition open. I don't understand how she can collect welfare or any government benefits (other than social security benefits for the child, IF the child's father is deceased) if she is a RN.

I don't think confrontation of her inappropriate comments would work, usually these people are too agressive--how about becoming busy when she starts talking? A change of offices?, hours? days off? requesting a transfer?

Come to Los Angeles, we don't have that problem, (unless someone is complaining about me and I haven't picked up on it yet?)

Let us know what happens!!

Monica RN,BSN · Sep 23, 2007

I'm not clear how she can be in charge if you were hired for "charge". She might need to be taken down a bit...

All RN's are considered charge. The first one on the schedule is charge, the second one listed is the assistant.