Nurses Misbehaving While Caring For Inmates

[nursejudy15209]

Yes, I am disturbed about the bad reputation nurses are gaining at the correctional facility where I work.

One gave inmates Ultram in large quantities without an order, the other smuggled cell phones and cigarettes into the jail, and here's the latest - another just got arrested for inappropriate sexual relations with inmates.

What the heck is going on? Of course these nurses were arrested and entered the jail from the "other side of the fence". I guess I'm just baffled. I wouldn't think that nurses would engage in such behavior ESPECIALLY when our DON issued many warnings about what not to do when working as a nurse in corrections.

Needless to say, our reputation for being "the angels of mercy" that dignifies nurses around the world, is pretty much gone south. I feel that our respectability as a group has been comprimised and it just angers me. By the way, these separate incidents have happened in the short span of 3 months. Has the world gone crazy or is it just me?

What about your correctional facility? Have you ever heard of such things going on where you work? I even had a run in with somthing when I trusted the wrong person who happened to make an appearance in the medication room where I was pouring pills. Needless to say -- when it comes to narcotics, I have learned not to trust anybody! Nobody gets the chance to get that close to me or my cart again. But everything turned out OK, but I can't say the same for these other nurses. I might have been a "target" or "victim" but that's not the case with these people. They knowingly took advantage of what they thought was an easy way to get around the system built to protect those working.

Everybody gets caught sooner or later, but now that things have come to light, it makes those who actually work hard and do their jobs - uncomfortable. These nurses were my colleagues. I thought they were people who chose nursing because most of the time we do perform some kind of necessary function even if our only "patients" are those wearing jail uniforms.

Anybody with thoughts on this rather different and uncomfortable topic?

[Anne128]

It is beginning to sound like this inappropriate behavior from staff is common in corrections. That just blows me away. I am so having second thoughts about pursuing the offer any further. If the CO's can be manipulated into chit like this, how SAFE are they really keeping you?

[NURSEPATTY]

It is beginning to sound like this inappropriate behavior from staff is common in corrections. That just blows me away. I am so having second thoughts about pursuing the offer any further. If the CO's can be manipulated into chit like this, how SAFE are they really keeping you?

Please don't think this is a common occurence in Correctional facilities; just my . I know of the facility spoken of by the OP; The CO's there have your back in any situation, and the nursing staff in general I know personally or by working with them. Please consider your job offer, and hope you choose to take it. Corrections can be a quite fulfilling career. Good luck in whatever you choose to do!

[Anne128]

That's good to hear. I wish I knew what facility the OP were talking about..

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

I am so having second thoughts about pursuing the offer any further. If the CO's can be manipulated into chit like this, how SAFE are they really keeping you?

Realize that the people who are compromised are a small minority - and that they are going against the training they were given upon employment. My agency devotes an entire section in preservice training to avoiding compromising situations - and this training is given to both new officers and free staff.

As for why it happens, there are a number of reasons. Maybe the employee is starved for attention, or he/she has a very limited social life. Maybe the employee develops a rapport with a particular inmate that escalates into what the employee believes is a friendship or relationship. Maybe there is a basic physical attraction and nature takes its course. The real problem is that once you start down that road it is nearly impossible to stop without some consequences. Once you do the first favor, the inmate then has you over the proverbial barrel, because you have violated policy (and in some cases state law). The demands become more and more, and if you stop (and even sometimes when you don't) the inmate will report you to administration. There are seldom consequences for the inmate.

In one case I mentioned before (the warehouse supervisor who was compromised), I was the person who reported the behavior. I was an institutional case manager at the time. An inmate who almost never came to my office asked if he could talk to me privately. He was in tears. He told me that the employee had struck up a relationship with him, and she eventually began having sex with him. She then dumped him and struck up a similar relationship with another inmate on her work crew. This inmate was devastated, because he had apparently fallen very hard for this employee. Since I had been informed of alleged illegal activities of an employee, I was obligated to report the matter to the chief of security of my institution. The employee was walked off the yard within an hour.

[tbrd450]

Orca: "If you excessively empathize with inmates, the seeds of compromise are already planted. These people have gotten by all their lives by manipulating others and convincing people of things that are either exaggerated or totally untrue"

As a nurse I would think you most definitely would want to always, objectively, empathize with your patients. While over sympathizing could probably be a problem in any nursing environment, particularly corrections, to be an effective care giver -- a nurse -- I would certainly think an empathetic, caring touch, and open mind would be crucial. They -- the incarcerated patients -- are not widgets on an assembly line awaiting the next part to be attached. Why be a nurse if not to bring relief, care, consideration and well-being to your patients -- people?

Orca: "These people have gotten by all their lives by manipulating others and convincing people of things that are either exaggerated or totally untrue"

Please don't take this the wrong way, but: How do you know that? Have you lived in their shoes? Have you seen the world through their eyes? As a medical professional, I would think you would be a bit more objective and, well, ... emotionally grounded in your attempt to reduce the incarcerated population (apparently, all of them everywhere) to this single summary statement. Can I ask you about something... are you angry inside? Do you resent your work a lot?

With regard to the "inappropriateness" (translation: crimes) committed by correctional staff (officers, nurses, techs, administrative staff, dental assistants, etc.), I'm curious about something ... why is "training" always thrown up as the root cause. As if to say, if only the staff member had been properly "trained," or would have paid closer attention during "training," then the sexual relationship would never have happened, or the CO wouldn't have emptied a full can of mace along with that extra knee to the groin on the already-subdued inmate (oops... I missed that day in training!)... come on. Wrong is wrong -- in fact, it is often that simple when one describes the patients/inmates behavior. This "inappropriate" behavior turns the law-abiding into the law breakers they monitor. Many, many people get away with a lot of stuff -- probably more nonconvicts than convicts. Many many people retain their freedom and free society status, along with all the trimmings, despite mistreating and abusing their power.

I would like to advise someone starting out in corrections nursing to stay true to her/his convictions about delivering care. Recognize and live by right vs. wrong in your heart -- you certainly don't need an in-service training day to do that. If you need to be trained to recognize what is inappropriate with regard to sexual relationships and abuse...well, ... don't quit your day job.

If your heart tells you something is wrong about the institution you work in....it probably is. If your heart tells you the patient ("inmate") you are caring for is probably a decent guy that made a mistake... he probably is. If you can't stay true to these convictions and values after you enter the correction nursing environment, then... well...why be a nurse anywhere? No other environment offers patients at their most vulnerable in need of quality nursing care. Remember also you don't have to just go along to get along -- be a leader and not a follower. Set the bar high.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but: How do you know that? Have you lived in their shoes? Have you seen the world through their eyes? As a medical professional, I would think you would be a bit more objective and, well, ... emotionally grounded in your attempt to reduce the incarcerated population (apparently, all of them everywhere) to this single summary statement. Can I ask you about something... are you angry inside? Do you resent your work a lot?

I quite enjoy what I do, and I get a lot of gratification out of it. I have gotten a lot of appreciation from those that I treat. That said, I am not there to "find the good" in inmates or to walk in anyone's shoes but my own. I am there to provide medical care - period. The reality is that I work around convicted felons, and living an honest, clean life isn't what brought them to where I work.

I don't operate a great deal differently than I did when I worked in a hospital. The differences are slight, but important. I do not share personal information with inmates, nor do I internalize what is going on with them so much that it affects me off the job. I am also mindful of security matters and I also know that while a certain inmate may not be inherently dishonest, there are those who will pressure others into doing things they would not normally do. I don't turn my back to those I am treating, and I am constantly mindful of where I leave sharps/medications/etc., even briefly.

I don't mean to be offensive either, but your statements sound more like those of an ACLU lawyer than a medical professional. And I stand by my statement about extreme empathy in this environment. I have seen many people with similar attitudes walked off the yard.

[deyo321]

I would like to advise someone starting out in corrections nursing to stay true to her/his convictions about delivering care.

Are you in a position to advise someone on this matter? It would be terribly reckless of you to advise someone on a subject if you have no personal experience. Really that could be quite dangerous in this instance. You list no specialty and from your posts I gather you have not worked in corrections. In fact I agree with Orca in wondering if you are a Nurse.

Deyo leaving the sandbox.

[Nurse_Tricia, LPN]

I am thinking about taking a prn position in a correctional facility and if I decide to go forth with it (not because I am afraid but more on if I can commit to their prn requirements for shifts) I would especially pay attention to the training. I can imagine that some of these nurses didn't realize until it was too late they were crossing the boundaries. I am sure training, or at least good training, provides examples of what to look for and how to handle them so you are more conscious of people who may be manipulative and have and an underlying motive. What may be normal boundaries in regular world, I am sure could lead to harmful situations in a prison or correctional setting.

tbrd450, it sounds as if you blame the staff for all the wrong doings in a prison/correctional facility. When I read this post, I immediately thought that you were or were in the past an inmate. These inmates have made choices that have consequences with them.. They don't have the right to live within normal setting of society that is why they are confined. What they have the right to is quality medical care which includes proper medical attention.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

I look at working with inmates much like universal precautions. I always prepare for the worst-case scenario, and if I get less than that, no harm done. I don't need to know everyone's life story or feel everything they feel in order to be an effective care provider.

[katkonk, BSN, RN]

Orca: "If you excessively empathize with inmates, the seeds of compromise are already planted. These people have gotten by all their lives by manipulating others and convincing people of things that are either exaggerated or totally untrue"

As a nurse I would think you most definitely would want to always, objectively, empathize with your patients. While over sympathizing could probably be a problem in any nursing environment, particularly corrections, to be an effective care giver -- a nurse -- I would certainly think an empathetic, caring touch, and open mind would be crucial. They -- the incarcerated patients -- are not widgets on an assembly line awaiting the next part to be attached. Why be a nurse if not to bring relief, care, consideration and well-being to your patients -- people?

Orca: "These people have gotten by all their lives by manipulating others and convincing people of things that are either exaggerated or totally untrue"

Please don't take this the wrong way, but: How do you know that? Have you lived in their shoes? Have you seen the world through their eyes? As a medical professional, I would think you would be a bit more objective and, well, ... emotionally grounded in your attempt to reduce the incarcerated population (apparently, all of them everywhere) to this single summary statement. Can I ask you about something... are you angry inside? Do you resent your work a lot?

What you didn't know when you posted that, is that Orca is a wise and very experienced correctional nurse. I have been reading these threads for about 2 years now, and highly regard her input. I can only assume that you have not worked as any type of healthcare professional in a correctional setting, just from what you wrote. To the other posters, people go down the wrong path no matter what area of healthcare you work in. I worked side by side for several months with a physician (anesthesiologist) who was stealing fentanyl and using during his workday at the hospital. I also interacted with a RN in corrections that was a new hire, and I knew there was something very wrong. I was worried, but couldn't prove anything in particular. She was stopped and fired when she attempted to go through security to enter the building with a 3cc syringe and 1 1/2" needle in her purse. When asked what that was for, she told them it was her insulin syringe. hmmmmmm.....besides being high, she wasn't that bright either. Like in any other work environment, whether healthcare or not, all you can do is be responsible for your own actions and be diligent in trying to ensure that others around you are practicing safely. But, you cannot save everyone.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

The biggest giveaway to me was the "caring touch" line. In the prison environment that is often misinterpreted as romantic interest, and it can create a lot of problems. You have to be very careful about anything tactile with this population, especially with opposite sex inmates. The continued use of the word "empathy" was another red flag, because no nurse needs to completely identify with his/her patient to be effective. You can appreciate and understand someone's condition and know what they need without getting inside their head. Empathy can get you into bad situations, both legally and ethically, if taken to extremes - which was my point. This is true no matter where you work, but when you're around professional game-players, doubly so.

I have been a correctional nurse for about nine years. I have worked in line and supervisory capacities and I am currently a DON in a state prison. Before I became a nurse I was a correctional officer, a correctional case manager and I worked for a state parole board for almost ten years. My total correctional experience is north of 25 years, and I have worked in both male and female facilities. I know a little bit about prisons and inmates.

Katkonk, I very much appreciate your post. One minor correction, though: I'm a guy.

[mikethemurse, BSN, RN]

yeah, after reading a couple of posts, I had the same feeling. Confirmed in the thread about modesty. Not a health professional. Anyway, to the OP...and all the others in this thread, Corrections is a wonderful place to work. Unfortunately, our colleges' mistakes are big news, (unlike in the hospital). There are good and bad in every workplace. In corrections we have different dangers to avoid. But like Orca put so well, use universal precautions, and you will avoid a lot of the pit-falls that have been mentioned in this thread.