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Where to start? You and I know that they can't get high from INH, but other inmates don't know that. I have seen them sell antibiotics, Theophylline, HTN meds, etc for sex, commissary, and food. Maybe someone wants to collect pills to commit suicide, or to crush them and put them in someone's food. They didn't complain when they took them, but they waited until the new nurse was on duty. One inmate translated for another...no telling what was actually being said. Sorry, but they played you. They got more meds, they caused a rift among the nurses, they found something to do with their time, and they laughed about it. It is very tough for new nurses to work in correctional. So trusting. Hopefully, your co-workers can see that you were played, help you learn the system, and tell you stories about when they were "taken". Next time, just tell the inmate, "You should speak up when you get the medication if you think it isn't correct". Watch and see, they will just walk off. When working corrections- always talk to your co-worker first.

If you told me to sit on a rock, I would assume you were crazy. I have heard of nurses putting rice in CNA shoes, and one nurse even forced CNAs to wear wet (new) depends. My opinion- nurses are pushing envelopes with this type of sensitivity training. If employees aren't paying attention and do not take meds seriously...write them up. You cannot teach caring, compassion, or even good work ethics. If Disciplinaries and income loss is not sufficient motivation for compliance, they need to find another job. Weed out the bad apples quickly, so you don't lose any good apples. Just my opinion.

Post-op hernia repair 74 y/o male admitted from outpatient for 23 h obs: wasn't recovering too quickly-sure didn't want to wake up. Family furious- wanted to file a grievance as he had not received his rhythmol WHILE IN POST OP! Then they became very irate that I would not give it until 2100. Even printed material re rhythmol/versed/demerol interactions did not phase them. Finally told them to stop threatening and call the cardiologist. Darned if the same thing didn't happen a week later.

Never heard of nurses watching cameras. Wouldn't they be more helpful on the floor? Seriously, you are walking into some rough @#$%. Extended care can be very tough. Why do you think they are training you on night shift? Team nursing- you and an LPN, for 8 patients. Doesn't sound bad, except these patients are all high acuity. These patients are commonly referred to as "train wrecks". Caringchic is absolutely correct. Lots of caffeine, deep breaths, carry candy for needed sugar, and remember that healthcare, as we know it, is still in it's infancy. Break a leg.

I would tell on him. He not the boss. Seriously though, it's a mind game- he thinks he is in control- forgetting that his needs are now being met by the nursing staff. Once he is subtlety reminded that you are his link to food and medication- it will bottom out that ego surge (for a little while).

You imagine him have been a normal person prior to the child. You really are nice (good good thing.) I imagined him to have been a sleazy, slimy, lazy, abusive, pre/post convicted, selfish substance abuser. My impression comes from working the private duty/children sector, and dealing with all types of families. Isn't it odd the way we all see things differently? I also believe that your friends you speak of are a whole lot different from this man. Obviously, you are a very caring person, (who must never work with inmates-). I have worked in homes that lived completely off that "measly" check, and would lie, cheat, and manipulate to get more $ and avoid working. That being said- if your nursing judgement is as good as your heart is big- you can take care of me or my family anytime. And- I want you to move and become my neighbor. I like nice people.

I believe that you are a very caring person, who is extremely naive and must never work with inmates. I have worked in homes that live almost completely off that "measly" check, and will lie, cheat, and manipulate to get more and avoid working. That being said- if your nursing judgement is as big as your heart- you can take care of me or my family anytime.

If I need a bathroom break, I take one. The "me time" I speak of is not for the bathroom. It is that down time for 30 minutes to just get away. Per the post I was referring to : "In nursing school we were told if we do not take care of ourselves we cannot take care of our patients"- implying that the lunch break is necessary for our well being, and implying an attempt at martyrdom. I just haven't had a need for the down time. (Perhaps I really should have used that term instead of "me time".) This is obviously something very important to you, and as a co-worker, I would respect your opinion on this subject. I also would expect my opinion to be respected.

In reply to post 146: I am not attempting to be a martyr. This issue is not a clinical issue, and cannot be solved by looking it up in a text book, or bringing up what you were taught in school. This is an opinion issue. The law states that I get paid if I don't get 30. It doesn't say employer must guarantee 30. My sister is a welder, and frequently misses her lunches also. She doesn't do this to be a martyr. She gets into the same pace mode, and also doesn't want to stay 2 hours late to play catch up. While I am at work, I don't think about "me" time. I don't like to stop if I have set my pace.

Maybe you could talk anonymously to the local Police Narcotics Unit?

Re: the OP. Perhaps the humorless Dr. was attempting to joke? No Physician is going to voluntarily breach basic standard of care. Can you imagine how much a memo directing this negligence would be worth to a med-mal attorney? Just doesn't sound realistic, but, who knows?

Through agency, I have worked at places that required their own staff to do this. I just don't get it. I go to work to make money, and consider putting food in my children's mouths a great responsibility. I work very hard, am a good employee, do my job, and respect the employer/employee relationship. I'm pretty thick skinned, don't let little things bother me, and try to work with all P&Ps without complaint. But- NEVER MESS WITH MY MONEY!!! If I don't get lunch- I WILL be paid. And, isn't it illegal to mandate employees to perform criminal acts? Falsifying timecards to avoid paying employees for time worked- wouldn't that be criminal in a really big way?

Guy sounds like he knows the inside of a jail cell quite well. People like this could care less about his grieving process- he's probably happy to be getting a check and having very little responsibility. I have to disagree with Verandoug- who obviously has a heart of gold and possibly never worked a prison (I'm assuming).(?) Daddy is a controlling, abusive, lazy, free loading druggie. Not a parent-almost not human. Lots of these in prison- many more in society jush pushing the envelope. That is what this guy is doing. Knows who he can push and what he can get away with. Soul-less.

Please Aloevera, stop the perpetuating!!! I'm hungry. I am now suspicious that you may have perpetuated other problems-you are protesting too much!! Did you ever know Jimmy Hoffa? Have you ever traveled to Mt. St. Helens? Were you on the grassy knoll?? Seriously Aloevera- I got your back. My job is how I feed my family- and I take that very serious. There are some issues that I would not tolerate at work, but getting paid if I don't get to sit down for 30 minutes isn't a problem to me.

It is already established by actions that you can be victimized, so don't go back to that house. Calls to make: Pt.s Physician first, hotline, case worker, finally your agency. You are required by law to hotline any suspected abuse. As you believed the child wasn't being cared for while under the parent's care, you should hotline. I'll bet the kid's lungs were crappy every time after being in only the parent's care- required lots of percussion and suctioning? I've seen that too. Don't get yelled at while doing your job!!!!!!

It just isn't that big a deal to me. But it is important to some co-workers, and so I work with them to make sure they can get away for 30 minutes to eat. And in return, they respect what is important to me. Once a co-worker states a need for food due to: diabetes, post-illness, medications, or feeling weak- we make sure they get their lunch break. Personally, I live for snacking, and those big gulps of Mountain Dew when I am close to the break room.

I also rarely use a tourniquet. Good advice given to me while I was also going through a dry spell. By keeping an extremity below heart level while I get supplies set up, I found veins do not blow as often on the elderly. Might use tourniquets on younger. But I am terrible at those deep veins on the obese patient, and have stopped even attempting IVs on obese, dark skinned patients- I really need veins that jump up and down screaming "pick me- pick me!" Have used a veinoscope a few times and love them.

I have also been fired- for speaking out against violations. In a right to work state, you can be fired for anything, and my sense of outrage has assisted me out the door. Was once told that I was being fired because I hotlined an incident. But, "subordinate, pleasant and as less visible as possible"- wow. This appears to encourage meekness in students.(?) That old hierarchy mentality hasn't existed in medicine for years. Those students who speak up for themselves and others are the ones who make changes happen. Viva La Revolution!!!

Sometimes, taking a lunch would put a big bite into my work schedule. It may seem like only 30 minutes, but playing "catch up" can drown me, and since my work IS taking care of people, I choose not to do that to myself, and especially not to my patients. That 30 minutes can multiply itself very quickly into 2 hours overtime. This isn't a time management problem- it is a task overload problem. I get into a work mode, my mind clicking, prioritizing tasks- and my brain cannot always take a 30 minute stoppage. Like having to re-start a car to get it warm again. (Older cars take longer!!) Most times, by not stopping to take a lunch, I am actually putting my patients before myself. They don't suffer for it- and I can grab quick bites, so I don't actually don't suffer either.

Personally, I don't believe this. Way to easy to simply explain the acronym to the patient. This was obviously some kind of admin decision. Some over-paid, possibly pompous, Emily Post etiquette conscious executive brain decided that it was inappropriate and unprofessional to call them COWs. If it is so very easy to get things changed nationally by one patient complaint...

It has been this way forever. You just gotta laugh- what does the world think we are talking about when nurses complain about getting no respect and being over worked? And to imply that people are doormats because they don't jump up and fight the big lunch break battle? That is over the top, isn't it? We all pick our own causes, and (I believe) it is wrong to criticize someone because they don't pick the battle that YOU want them to pick. This is only one of the many disrespectful conditions that cause nurses to leave the medical field. Not even the decency to make sure that we get lunch. I am so very glad that none of my children are nurses!!

I can't survive without cargo pants. I also carry a small, clean spec bag in my pocket and keep a small roll of tape in it. Use it to carry meds after pulling them from the accudose or pyxis. This way I don't have to make frequent trips to the med room (except for narcs).

My experience last week with written/faxed reports: Direct admit-(frequent flier- didn't need report) to room 1, 30 minutes after her arrival-lab called- her K+ was 2.8. While calling Doc re critical lab, US tells me my blood is ready for room 2!! Knew I was getting an admit- but had no info, and didn't even know pt had arrived- no report. Lab for pt in room 2- K+ was 2.9 (no kidding) 10 minutes later- room 3 returned from GI- no report. Family immediately at desk demanding food- or Doc be called. So, two critical K+, no report, 2 units PRBC ready- (7.4)- one IV site. How stinking dangerous is this? Really. If a critical lab has to be called from lab to nurse, then nurse to Doc, why shouldn't that requirement continue onto report.? Day before- transfer from tele- nothing on report about her thoracentisis that am. Had it been a phoned report- I would have asked about the pleural effusion noted 3 days prior, but... I'm not sure they are gonna be able to work the kinks out of this system.

Get another job, start applying immediately, but we have to stand up for those that cannot stand up for themselves. Blow the whistle-really loud! (No comments re loss of income please. I have blown more than one whistle, and still raised 3 children as a single parent- mortgage, car payments, college...) An old joke: "we have established what you are, now we are just haggling over price." (Don't be part of that joke-too many people are) Please don't have a price- BLOW the whistle. Teach your children what being a nurse and a human is about. I would rather work shoveling dirt from a cesspool than sit quietly and watch sick or elderly be mistreated. You only have one life- don't compromise. Good luck with whatever road you take- but the one less traveled makes all the difference!!

True, we can learn from everyone, but patients who are sick, scared, worried; don't think they are in the learning mood. I have seen patients unable to communicate with nurses due to heavy accents, and they were scared. I have written down the wrong information during report due to that very accent, and have watched Doctors frustration trying to communicate with these nurses. These nurses were wonderful, caring, competent people, but the lack of communication brought chaos, confusion, and was very detrimental to patient care. Administration had to pull a few of these nurses from the floor and they spent days trying to improve their English. It isn't about being politically correct. It is about communication.