Eirene

JMO- Thank you for your reply and encouragement! I actually have 29 days clean, oops! Everyday counts. I appreciate you telling me to focus on my recovery right now; that's what I've been doing and looked at it as a character flaw because I've actually put my license on the back-burner. I thought, 'maybe I should care more about my license.' It helped me when you said that. I think the drug testing is a great method. It helps keep me accountable. And the NA meetings are so helpful, I don't mind attending them at all. Again, thank you for your reply.

Hello everyone, I have a long story but I am going to shorten it up. I am a heroin addict. I self-reported my addiction and checked into inpatient rehab the same day, August 31st. I now have 28 days clean under my belt and I am darn proud of that 28 days. I guess I could have not reported myself but I felt I needed to. I didn't want the OBN finding out on their own and being honest has helped me throughout the "steps" of the narcotics anonymous program. I never used on the job or diverted. I was just a dirty nurse with a deadly addiction. First and formost, I am so grateful that I am clean and sober today. I am happy to be alive. I am slowly building up trust from my family and friends. I have a home, food to eat, and a car to drive. I have people to love and for that, I am grateful. I would like to go back into nursing eventually after my treatment program ends and I have some clean time under my belt. Right now I think it is best that I'm not around narcotics of any type. I put my license in 'inactive' status and have sent the OBN a release of medical records of my treatment program. I have been going to NA (Narcotics anonymous) every single night and have decided to get signatures of my attendance in case the OBN needs proof that I am attending meetings. What should I expect in this journey of getting my license back? I'm sure drug testing will be involved and some type of narcotic restriction even though I did not divert. Thank you for any information you can offer.

I still receive notifications about new posts within this thread 3 years later. I love it! I wanted to share some information with all of you. Daytonite personally helped me with many of these careplans. https://danibanani.wordpress.com/nursing-careplans/

Thanks a million for your responses. I called today and told one of the owners I declined the position and didn't feel comfortable working with them (even though I've been working but not getting paid!). The other owner has been burning up my phone- I think 12 calls today? I wasn't able to answer because I was visiting a family member in the ICU- but it's still creepy. Calling over and over and over again- not even a minute to go by between calls. I got several texts, too. One stated, "I have no problem u not wanting to work with us. But plz tell me what made you uncomfortable to come back- so that I might can fix it." I hope they just leave me alone. I hate this!

Hi, everyone! Before I begin my questions, I need to state that I am a brand new HH nurse; although I do have nursing experience. This is a brand new HHC- in business for approximately 3 months. I'm just curious if this is the norm, or if I am too paranoid/hesitant. 1. UNpaid training. I've trained approximately 16 hours with NO PAY. I was understanding because they are a new company- but now I feel that I am being taken advantage of. Is this the norm? They called it "shadowing". 2. UNpaid mandatory weekly staff meetings. Only an hour- but golly, I sure have to have at least gas money to get to the office! 3. We were told today at the UNpaid staff meeting that they were hosting a *Meet and Greet* with the area physicians to help drill up some referrals. No big deal, right? But again, UNpaid, and I have to pretend I'm a cocktail waitress and serve wine and Hors d'œuvre! I didn't become an RN to play waitress on a Friday night that I could be spending with my family! 4. 8 hours this week of work. That's it. But again, they're a new company and have 4 nurses. 5. We were told today that we need to go in to prospective clients homes to arrange their medications WITHOUT PAY-- but they're waiting on the caresource approval and the rationale provided was, "They'll be clients that generate 40 grand a year once the approval hits." I spoke up and said, "Isn't this a HUGE liability issue?" Their remark back was, "we're not going to force you to do anything if you feel your license is in jeapordy- but it looks bad for business." Is this stuff fishy to you? Am I being too dramatic? I don't want to cut off my nose to spite my face because this is a JOB and things might look up. I just need some opinions!

Is a nursing license still at risk if a nurse has a personal relationship with a patient after their professional relationship has been terminated?

Our name badge have the initial of our first name with the full last name. E. Coli, for example. All of them call me Nurse Eirene, though. They are pretty coy. Our salaries are even published yearly.

I like to think of a sallyport as a front porch. You can only open one door at a time. They are big, heavy, locked doors. In my DOC, the little port in the actual door is called a cuffport. Hope this helps.

Yes... it's that bad. We have a system with a sallyport. There are two windows. We literally pass meds to hundreds of inmates a night. If you have a good team- we can kick 'em out in 1.5 hours. It was really intimidating at first, but I've grown acustomed to it. It's actually kind-of fun when you have another fun nurse and officer working with you.

There are some great replies here. I'm with the majority- I really like corrections. I know it sounds silly, but I feel like I make a difference on most days... even if they are criminals. Sometimes we are the only advocates in the world these men have. Everyone has a right to healthcare, period. They seem much more appreciative of healthcare than the general public when I worked critical care.

From what I'm told Wellbutrin acts as a stimulant when crushed. Crazy! The inmates say the rush is a lot like cocaine but is considerably shorter lasting.

Don't be afraid to say "no". Tell them to pull up their pants if you can see their boxers. Tell them to get their hands out of their pants. Be prepared to explain to them about their meds. Sometimes they'll refuse them. Explain to them that the drugs are important. A lot of times you can get them to take them if you just take a minute to explain how important they are. There is nothing wrong in telling them that you care about their mental health (after you've been there for a while). Don't take their sexual harrassment or staredowns. The power of the pen is an amazing thing in prison. They hate tickets.

Pandora- Thank you so much for your response. I absolutely love psych nurses- I always said I couldn't do your job- but it looks like I'm doing it. I've thought about my corrections career as a whole for the past few days. The pro's and con's, the good and bad. I have to admit that the pro's and the good's definitely outweigh the bad. 90% of the time I go home and know that I made a difference; even if the difference was made in a criminals life. I'm going to give it a good year and re-evaluate it then. I feel so inept when it comes to the psych portion. I've never been professionally trained. The most experience I have is when we would get the occasional drug overdose at the hospital. I think I'm going to look at different classes offered at the college that specifically relates to psychiatric nursing so I can understand it a bit more. It can't hurt. Anyway- thank you for your response. It really helped.

Can anyone offer any insight/thoughts on this post? I really need support. https://allnurses.com/correctional-nursing/leaving-work-work-438097.html

One of the reasons why I decided to go into correctional nursing was so I could leave work at work and I would not care so much for my patients. But, these patients are so mentally ill. I can't fix the problem. I can't give them that magic pill or hold their hand or make it better. I can't tell them that this world is a better place because they are alive. I can't stop them from cutting themselves. I can't stop the suicide attempts. I can't stop their nightmares or sit with them when they are new to the facility and are scared. I can't stop the rape, the brutal fights, the broken jaws. I can't, I can't, I can't. I read this section of allnurses failthfully. Nobody talks about how darn difficult and heartbreaking this line of work is. Am I the only one? Am I the only one who comes home from work and can't sleep because I can't stop thinking about the brutality that these men go through everyday? The violent rape that left a man with a prolapsed rectum? The man who bangs his head against the blocked wall because he has been in isolation for so long? The man who cut his arms so badly that his arms looked like ground beef? I've tried to talk to my nursing friends about this. 99% of them think that they deserve this. After all, they are criminals. A danger to society. They deserve this torture because they took something/someone away. They've raped, killed, stolen. They are in a max security prison for a reason. They are dangerous. They would kill again in a heartbeat given the right circumstance. They manipulate, take advantage, and steal. You can't talk about this with your co-workers because you'll be labeled as "hug a thugger." You put on your poker face and go through the motions. You can't care. But, I do care. They are bad, bad men. But, they are humans whose mothers beat them and who were neglected and who are so broken that we can't fix them. They are people. They are people who made very bad choices. The mental health portion of my job is wearing me down. I love the STEMI's. the emergencies, the education. I love treating their colds, bandaging their wounds, making their physical pain better. I like seeing the old men who are in the diabetic line smile their toothless smile. I like going home feeling I made a difference that day, even if the difference was made to a criminal who is just doing their time. The psych portion is getting to me. I feel incompetent. I love my job. I can't imagine doing anything else. Am I the only one?

In my practice (and I may be a bit jaded)- the inmates who say that they trust me are often manipulators. It's the downside of the profession; we care for people who are criminals. A lot of them have anti-social personaility disorders. I feel that I am trusted for the most part, though. An inmate can share very personal information about their health (for example- sexual activity in prison) with me and know they will not be judged. They will ask questions and not be embarrassed. After patient teaching I'll have them explain to me what they were just taught in their own words. I was always interested in community health and infectious diseases. I also wanted to care for the less fortunate. Prison provides all of this. Don't make promises you can't keep. Don't lie to them. Treat them all the same. Be firm, yet fair. Always be consistent. Welcome questions. Give good feedback such as, "Mr. R- your blood sugar has been great! I can tell you are taking your diet and meds seriously." Don't be fake. Be sincere.

Hey- congrats on your interview! ODRC is a great place to work. We really do have great healthcare. You'll be interviewed in front of a panel of 3-5 people. They'll ask you different types of questions. How do you feel about providing care for inmates who are rapists, prey on children, etc.? You have a patient who may have diabetes. What types of things would you look for? A porter asks you to mail a letter. How do you respond? An inmate comes into the clinic and states he has ingested an unknown substance. What are the things you would look for in his assessment? You'll be fine. Be yourself; be confident in your answers. Dress professionally. I highly recommend getting a pants business suit. Wear stud earrings (if you wear them at all). Don't wear too many rings or necklaces. Don't wear heels- wear flats or a small, square pump. Arrive 15 minutes early. I hope this helps, and best of luck!

Oh man- remember this one! I made the mistake of calling an officer a guard... ONCE. Wise words to live by...

Nurse Ratched has been used when they disrespect or lie to me. Angel of Mercy when they are beaten just a hair of death or are gravely ill. It depends on the situation. I really do not use any methods. I deliver healthcare. I ensure privacy. If they trust me- that's great. If they don't, that's fine, too. I never lie to them. I don't make promises that I can't keep. Their crimes are not my business. I care for a few inmates whose crimes are very public on the news (a few serial killers, exceptionally heinous crimes). I try very hard to not let their crimes influence the way I deliver my care. I treat the inmates all the same and assume that they are all dangerous. Believe it or not- most of them are very grateful for their healthcare. They are receptive to the teaching/learning process. Many of them never had healthcare before coming into corrections and view it as a luxery. Don't get me wrong- there are a few inmates who feel that medical is there to serve their every need. But a majority of them really do appreciate our help. See #4. My perceptions have changed drastically since becoming a correctional nurse. I now know what being a patient advocate is truly about. More often than not- we (nurses) are the ONLY advocate these inmates have in the world, even though we only advocate for their healthcare needs. We don't care what they have done- but we care about their safety. I feel empathy when a patient on death row has the flu; because he is a patient who is sick from the flu. They are a patient first and an inmate second. I believe with all of my heart that ALL people deserve healthcare. For the most part- yes. However, I do not offer reassuring touch. I cannot put my hand on their shoulder when I listen to their lungs- any move like that can be misinterpreted as a sexual advance. I also use slang when it is needed to help them understand what is going on with their bodies. I don't think it would be difficult- just different. I don't have to worry about press-ganey scores. I don't have to bend over backwards to make sure my patient gets dilaudid q1h. The strongest pain med I've given in prison is tylenol #3 and ultram. I can say "no" and mean "no" without worrying about hospital administrators. If one of the inmates gets loud or disrespects me- I terminate the appointment immediately and write them up for disrespect of staff. I can't do those things on the outside. I am less abused in prison than I was in the hospital. The economy. I was put on-call more than I was working at the hospital. NO! I thought it was very interesting when I did a rotation in nursing school- but I initially wanted to work in a critical care setting. Little did I know what corrections would offer me. I do a little of everything- including critical care until help can get there. I love corrections. I do believe that I've found my little niche in nursing.

Absolutely. I feel like I actually make a difference every single day. Sometimes we are the only advocates these guys have. I'd say 75% of the inmates really care about their health and are receptive to the teaching/learning process. It is a tough job, but I can't imagine myself doing anything else. You do have to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Your clincical skills have to be exceptional to determine if it is a crisis situation or not. I've learned that I have to rely on my gut feelings. They are typically correct, but I've had a few inmates (more than I care to count that have fooled me. I try to make it a point NOT to know what crimes they committed. It is an absolute must that we do not judge them. Some of the inmates do abuse the system; I'd say 10% do abuse the system. We have a policy where we (nurses) charge anywhere from a $2 to $3 co-pay for our services. A majority of the guys only make $17/month. That is a good chunk of money when you put that into consideration. And that is what makes my job so rewarding. So many of the inmates didn't have access to healthcare on the outside. They truly do not understand what is going on with their bodies. Teaching the disease process and healthcare maintenance takes up a majority of my daily duties. And, yes- a lot of us had these concerns when we signed up for the job. My views have changed so much since working inside the walls. If you decide to go into corrections as a new grad- you're going to have a rough time at first. We have a nurse who did go into corrections when she was a new grad- and she is one of our strongest nurses (she was a C.O. while she went through school). It can be done. I do not recommend it without having hospital experience. You can always go for it- you could be the exception to the rule- who knows? All you can do is try. Good luck!

I try to stay away from navy blue (crypts), orange (the color of I/M jumpuits), or red (bloods) scrubs. If I wear the colors, it will be in scrub pants with a top that has another design. My tip: practice your poker face! You'll see and learn so much.

So many times we complain about inmates, porters, P & P, etc. I have a story to share. We have a great C.O. in her late 50's. She is always fair, firm, and consistent; which all of you know is a must in corrections. She works at the lower security portion of my prison. She is well liked and respected by all. I walk in the door to start NSC. I literally had one foot in the door when an inmate runs in. He states that Ms. CO is hurt and needs help. I run over to the dorm and found her face down with inmates all around her. At first glance, it looked like the worst had happened. My heart dropped to my knees. As I approach, I see that they are helping her. Talking to her. Praying above her. Two former EMTs (now inmates) have taken her pulse and are keeping her spinal cord in alignment. As I'm tending to her, a rush of other C.O.'s come running in- her "man down" alert system has been activated by the radio on her belt. It turns out that one of the inmates activated it for her to signal for help. Tonight proved to me that the human spirit is amazing and you should never under estimate the power of kindness. The situation could have been so much worse. These inmates helped save her life.

I would have called the Captain or Major immediately.

Stephied- They have a right to refuse medication unless it is mandated. We have 12 mandated meds out of 2,500 inmates- all of which are mental health. If the inmate doesn't want a specific med he just tells us. We have a HUGE issue with cheeking meds. The biggest cheeked meds are neurontin, ultram, and wellbutrin. We do not do any opiates what-so-ever. I guess if you snort wellbutrin it gives a cocaine-like high for an hour or so. Who would have guessed??? Another thing... when we have a mandated med- it is usually crushed and mixed with water, or it is a syrup base.