jailDON

I have a lot of experience with borderlines. In order to deal with their need to consume of lot of your attention and time as a floor nurse with 8 patients this works: First accept that the borderline will get your attention one way or another. The borderline has that awful fear of abandonment and an agonizing empty feeling. At the beginning of your shift sit with this patient and give your undivided attention. Do your initial assessment and then make "appointments" with her every 2 hours or whatever you think is appropriate. If something comes up and you can't make an appointment go to her and say I have an emergency I'll be 15 minutes late. If she wants attention in between do not comply, stick with the appointment schedule. If the appointment time rolls around and she is in a meeting with the therapist approach her afterwards and say you were tied up at our appointment time, do you still need to talk? This really, really works. Also borderlines are great staff-splitters. This requires a lot of staff education and good communication to combat.

I am moderate on three of the things. The bad thing is that as a psych nurse, I knew what was the "right" answer and what was the "wrong" answer so I had to really try and be honest with myself.

Forgot to mention pay. It is comparable for the LVNs to the hospitals but a little low for the RNs.

Same here in Texas.........the 8 hour shifts mentioned above. We also have 16 hour shifts on the weekends for nurses who only want to work weekends. The company would like us to phase them out though. Also I agree with the others. Get a year or so of med-surg or ER experience first.

LOL, a pimple! You never know what you are going to see. That's why I tell my nurses to never triage over the phone. Maybe after everyone gets used to you and learns you are smart and know what you are doing, they will show more respect. Are you on-call 24/7 like I am? That DESERVES compensation!

LOL, a pimple! You never know what you are going to see. That's why I tell my nurses to never triage over the phone. Maybe after everyone gets used to you and learns you are smart and know what you are doing, they will show more respect. Are you on-call 24/7 like I am? That DESERVES compensation!

Brickman, I think you are right. Many times medications or certain treatments are part of a parole or probation agreement. My experience is that inmates do have the right to refuse. If they are incompetent to make their own medical decisions, we get a court order for forced medications if their refusal will lead to harm or death.

Brickman, I think you are right. Many times medications or certain treatments are part of a parole or probation agreement. My experience is that inmates do have the right to refuse. If they are incompetent to make their own medical decisions, we get a court order for forced medications if their refusal will lead to harm or death.

Just curious NurseT...........things still looking up for you?

Wow, I probably have many conversations with my supervisor that I should not have behind those walls. We don't really say anything wrong but we talk a lot about the relationship between security and medical.

Sounds like he jealous maybe and doesn't understand that there is a lot of responsibility that goes along with your profession. Great move to network with other nurses in your area.

In west Texas the pay is $16-$19/hour. The key is in negotiation IF your area is short nurses. Try this....Don't ask what the pay is but TELL them what pay you require.

Dixiedi - all true. You didn't comment on the bugging issue. Did they record phone calls in the institution you worked in? NurseT - on the labor laws....The only thing I can find out is that salaried people in my state are expected to work 40 hours IF they don't do call. In your case, doing call, a shorter work day helps make up for the inconvenience of being awakened in the middle of the night. At a local hospital the nurses don't get paid for call at all unless they have to go in THEN they are paid overtime.

What state are you in? I think the laws are different state by state but I could be wrong.

"I'm beginning to wonder if they've got me bugged." It's very possible. At my jail, every call that lasts over 3 minutes is recorded. Listening to the recordings is done randomly and only a small percentage is monitored UNLESS they suspect something or are out to get you. Once at my facility they caught a nurse having a relationship with a former inmate/felon that returned frequently. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they are listening to you. Over the years there are times when I have had to go to my car and talk on my cell phone rather than use the jail phone. It's a weird feeling when you have to do that. Their concerns are really ridiculous. You are your own department as Mattsmom suggested and the doctor could be the one that determines what hours you work. Which of you is considered the Health Services Administrator? In my facility it's an RN with that title and he is the supervisor over the MD, monitors contract compliance and ACA/NCCHC compliance.