nurse1972

In our facility we have a large number of documented MRSA but lord only knows how many others out on the tiers undiagnosed. "Spider bite" is the most frequent complaint and we see those people first in sick call. We do culture wounds if they are draining and place them on Bactrim under "watch take" protocol.

Agency RN in Maryland $32/hr at local prison. When I left the hospital 4 months ago I was making $28.64/hr but I love my new job at the prison.

Equal pay for equal work. You are all professionals and everyone should be a part of the team and work together. TOGETHER meaning not put all the grunt work on just a few individuals. There is no reason you couldn't split the patients up equally and all do primary care.

Required to wear makeup that's crazy, what if it were against someone's religion or beliefs. In clinicals we couldn't wear jewelry except for stud ear rings, wedding bands and watches. I personally wear some makeup to help me look more professional but not dolled up. I don't wear jewelry other than small studs. I think other jewelry gets in the way and is a breeding ground for bacteria.

I love the bright and obnoxious colors and patterns. When I started we had to wear white but we had recently gotten rid of the caps. I've had several older patients say they prefer the "old days" when you could tell the nurses from the support staff because of the nursing caps. I've found that if the various departments have a basic color they stick to it's easier to tell them apart. Resp. Therapy was green, Housekeeping blue or burgundy, kitchen staff wore white pants with red shirts and nurses could wear anything. I think I'm getting to be a "fuddy duddy" because I don't like the new Metro scrubs. I don't like the tight fitting low riders that some of the new nurses are wearing. I don't have the body for them but even if I did I wouldn't wear them. I don't think a nurse should wear anything tight or revealing and never show any stomach or shoulders. That's my personal preference.

I was doing some research the other night in regards to MRSA in the prison setting and I found a few suits filed by inmates against the facility, doctors, nurses and anyone else they could think of. I did see where they where awarded some money but didn't really pay attention to who they found guilty. The claim was that the medical professionals didn't give adequate care and let these individuals suffer for extended periods of time with wounds that were not being treated effectively. I don't think there anymore suits in corrections than in any other part of nursing. Of course having your own liability insurance is always a good idea. If you are prudent and follow protocols, are fair, firm and consistent you shouldn't have too many problems.

AN INMATE WHO SEEMS TO THINK HE OWNS THE PRISON I just wanted to vent some frustration I encountered yesterday in the disp. I was not in my usual prison but had been floated to another one on the complex. I've been there twice and both times I've had a run in with a particular inmate. More or less he walk into the treatment room, tells the staff what he wants and then helps himself with such a command that no one stands up to him. Except for me, and he of course didn't find that amusing. He glared at me (if looks could kill), mumbled something and pointed his finger at me. I'm unfamiliar with the officer I was working with and he didn't exactly have full control of the inmates as they waited in the bullpen. After the encounter with the inmate he left and I shortly went to lunch with some other female employees. While we were eating the inmate entered the Officers Dining Room. He had no business being in there and there were no officers eating in the room at the time since it was the end of lunch time. I later found out the inmate is a food service worker (convienient huh) but he was not in his whites like he should have been if he were going to work. I was so upset I discussed it with a regular nurse in the disp. and she said the inmate is always like that. I left that day frustrated beyond belief and swore never to return to that particular prison. Once I calmed down I wrote an information report and took it to the shift commander before I headed home for the evening. I only wish I would have thought to tell the inmate he was "Out of Bounds" and then written him a ticket. Now I'm just wondering what kind of backlash I'll be getting when I return to my usual prison disp. on the complex. But at least there I know the officers have my back.

I don't know if it's really worth it for you to fight this battle with your husband, that's between you and him. Depends on why he doesn't want you to work there? Is it because he is scare of what could happen to you? Is it a control issue? or lack of control issue with him? Does he not like the fact you will be around men all day? I also had resistance from my husband but I did it anyway and I'm glad that I did. I loved correctional nursing from the first day I worked. In my opinion my husband wanted me to do what HE wanted andI wasn't going to give in. Now it's not an issue in our relationship. If you think about it....you know who not to trust in the prison setting. But you don't know who not to trust in the outside word. There are freaks and psychos all around us everyday and you have no idea who is an ex-con or a future con. In the prison your safety is #1 and you get to call shots. You always have an officer with you and if there is no officer you wait for one. No one in administration will force you to enter a situation if you don't feel it's safe. I think that if you try it for 1 week you will know if you like it and want to stay. You will either love it or hate it. Is there a way you could shadow for a day with another nurse before you make your final decision. I'm impressed they offered to show your husband around. Good luck-

Thanks for the advice.- I did go speak with the Security Chief today in person. He pulled up the inmates picture for me so I could verify it was indeed him. However it has been several years and he had gained weight. They crossed referenced some other kinds of data I knew about him and it was indeed the person I thought. I was asked to put this information in writing for the record. I was instructed to notify custody if I was ever approached by him or any other inmates for any "favors". The Security Chief saw me right away after I made a call to his office. He personally walked me down to the control office and had the needed information provided to me to make an identification without having to actually encounter the inmate. The chief was more than professional and I feel 100% better that I brought it out in the open. The book I just finished reading also helped give me the needed knowledge and confidence to help me adjust to my new surroundings in the prison. Thanks for your words of wisdom. I appreciate it.

I've only been a nurse for 12 years and I know that our local hospital still uses metal basins, urinals and bedpans. I remember when universal usage of gloves came about and we used to recap our used syringes. We added to our IV bags, mini bags of phenergan and added insulin to TPN. I still use toe pleats when needed but usually pull the sheets out from under the mattress so I can inspect their feet. Apparently I'm one of the few nurses that do a full body- head to toe- assessment, and actually check their pedal pulses and look at their heels for breakdown. It's interesting to look at some of the older hospitals that still have some of the remnants of days gone by (if they haven't remodeled yet). Elevated bathtubs in peds to give the children a bath. The dumb waiter elevator to get things to and from central supply. The hopper to clean the metal bedpan after each use. Only one or 2 bathrooms to a floor of 20 patients, they had to use the bedpan or walk down the hall to use the toilet. And I still insist that a ceramic mortar and pessel (sp?) is the best way to crush meds. It's amazing how much has changed over the last 12 years, but if you have ever tried nursing in a prison setting it's very primitive almost like frontier nursing and you have to use all your "basic" skills you learned in nursing school.

I'm reading a book (Games that Criminals play, and how you can benefit by knowing them) and it suggests that anyone in corrections be called my last name only. In the facility I'm at the officers are known by last name only, but the nurses are all by first name. Nurse Margaret, Mary, etc. But when you sign any MAR or write in an inmates chart you sign your name. I use my first initial and full last name followed by RN.

In my naivety I began corresponding with an inmate that I was introduced to by a fellow coworker. It was in 1991 when I was 19 and it only lasted 6 months during a rebelious period. I didn't have any contact with him after he was released and since then I've graduated from nursing school, gotten married and have 2 children. I recently started at the local prison complex and find that he is a repeat offender and in the facility where I work. How do I handle this so a story doesn't develop that gets twisted out of context??? Any advice?

I live in Maryland. CMS is the company that has the contract with the state to provide the medical providers. I work for an agency which supplies CMS with acute staffing needs, but it is pretty regular work. I plan on becoming a full time staff member with CMS after my contract is fulfilled. I work day and evening shift which usually 7:30A-4P or 3:30-12A. We have the 3 prisons, each with a dispensary and one which has the infirmary (hospital ward for all 3 prisons). As for my personality.....Honestly, I'm outgoing, up beat and say what is on my mind, usually without thinking first. I have never mastered the art of being the "career RN", I don't have that finished/polished flare that some nurses do. But I've been doing it for 12 years and my patients have loved me, managers.....not so much. I don't play "corporate kiss _ss" and it has gotten me into some trouble. Basically my mouth gets me in trouble. But that is something I'm working on. The greatest thing about nursing is the diversity it provides. The options are endless and you never know where you niche will be. I know mine isn't in LDRP, ER, OR or Peds. I can say that I loved correctional nursing from the start. I recently purchased an article from amazon.com about correctional nursing. I'll send it to you if you are interested. (don't pay the $10 to download it from amazon, it wasn't worth $10 but none the less it was insightfull. Take care-

Why correctional nursing??? Everyone has their own reasons but you either love it or hate it. Some nurses say NO WAY when asked if they would consider an assignment in the prison, I on the other hand said sure lets see what it's about. I've been a nurse for 12 years and have worked long term care, sub acute, acute med/surg oncology, and home health. My personality is a bit different than your "professional career RN", I'm much less informal and will usually say the wrong thing and will get myself in trouble with inserting foot in my mouth. I'm currently doing agency and I went back to the nursing home and hated it. Tried the prison and after my first day I walked into the ADON office and inquired about a full time position. I recently bought an article from amazon.com about correctional nursing if you are interested I could send it to you. Take care and good luck.

Some of our Correctional Officers have adopted a policy of telling the inmates in the bullpen before they come in the dispencery that if anyone is having "chest pain" or "trouble breathing" they automatically will get a 7 days bedrest order from the nurse. They don't like that idea because they can't go to the recreation hall or out to the courtyard. That usually weeds out some of the fakers.