articnurseRN

Thank you for your responses. I was away for several days, so I just now got a chance to check this site. I don't know about who does QA, etc. I'm sure, like in any prison, medical is very isolated, and a teeny part of the scheme of things. Since starting, I feel like I got dropped into the deep end of a swimming pool & have been dog paddling, struggling to keep up. The job itself is a lot to learn. Then to add all the inmate game type stuff, it makes it very hard. I like the 7 days off and the people I work with are pretty nice. However, it is not really for me. I read the book Games Criminals Play and came away with the following, which seems to be my mantra before starting my shift: Be firm, fair & consistent; Learn to say no & mean it; Be professional; They are always out to compromise & manipulate you; Do not give them any personal information; Do not do any favors; Keep things in the open, or they will think there is something secretive going on between you and them. I find it extremely difficult to just perform skills on the inmates, & not be able to interact with them as patients. I'm professional and have a sort of poker face, but nobody told me anything, like do not introduce yourself by your first name, as this a way for them to get familiar with you. So it's been trial by fire & I've made a lot of mistakes. I had a vague security briefing, which did not explain anything, really, other than how drugs and cigarettes get into the place. I'm up here in Alaska & I chose it because it is a State of Alaska job, in a small town, where my retirement is at. However, there are lots of State of Alaska positions elsewhere. My hat is off to those who work in the environment, too. I guess others are just "tougher" than me. I don't think it's worth it. The job is hard enough without the constant, pervasive harrassment. On a positive note, I would say that most of the inmates are respectful and appreciative. Most of the CO's seem like angels, too. Performing a service for society. I'm just not sure why the CO's on my rotation in the segregation mod do not say anything when one individual in particular taunts or curses at me. Almost all of the inmates in this seg mod are respectful. I was surprised to hear one of these inmates who never gave medical a problem be so vile to the CO's. Maybe that is why they do not say anything? It could be that they are burnt out and it is par for the course in the job. I do feel really bad for the CO's to come to work and put up with the verbal abuse & & threats, though. I wouldn't want anyone I know to work in a prison. Not a fun place. It seems like a very sick environment. I know I did choose to get a job there. And I thought I could handle it due to my previous job experience as a psychiatric nurse, which I loved every minute of. Corrections is entirely different. About the only thing that is similar is that you are locked in and are aware of security issues. Psych. patients can curse at you & hurt you & stuff, too, but the nurse has control, and they are not ugly, disturbing threats. It gets nipped in the bud & stopped, & it was for a reason, such as setting a limit, not to do just for sick fun. (I know people probably cringe when they think of psych nursing, but I honestly loved it. I felt like my paycheck was free money. It was always fun and exciting. Like a broadway show. And, I was helping people.) Anyway, thank you all again for responding. I really appreciate it. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. That is one of the beauties of nursing. One can always go up, reinvent oneself, specialize, practically name one's own shift & wage, and have almost limitless possibilities. Take care.

Hello, I just finished my 4th week of a rotation at a 500 + maximum security population. I have had problems with a couple of I/M's. One I firmly redirected not to call me by my first name & curse at me, which I wrote him up for. His behavior has continued to be taunting, harrassing, & threatening, & the CO's on my pill pass did nothing about it. When I finally wrote him up, the seargent or the higher ups took some sort of action, and it stopped, but now it is continuing again. So they are going to take action again. However, aren't the CO's supposed to do/say something when it happens & not just leave me to fend for myself? Another I/M has had his pants down 3 days in a row, showing his boxer shorts & doing this sexual tongue thing at me. I firmly redirected him to pull his pants up, twice, but he just laughed, & refused to follow the direct orders. Again, the CO's do not say anything. I would appreciate any of your responses. Thank you.