Questions about Caring for Inmates....

[lm8539]

I am interested in correctional nursing and have a few questions:

1.) As a nurse, what illnesses do you see occurring most frequently among the inmate population? AIDS/ HIV? TB? Pneumonia? Hepatitis? Anything else?

2.) What special skills would you say are necessary to work with the inmate population as opposed to working in a regular hospital?

3.) How do the inmates treat you? Are they cooperative and respectful?

4.) How do you deal with manipulative behavior?

5.) Where do you see your patients? Do they always come to you in a prison medical office? DO you ever go into the inmate housing/cells?

[it's hot in phoenix]

1. Seizures, migraines and back pain.

2. Patience and triage skills.

3. I work with women and for the most part, they will treat you similar to the way you treat them.

4. Be consistent and fair and the word gets out, if some one is persistant, be firm and explain their behavior is unacceptable.

5. I have a office, with everything I need, except the ekg machine is in the next room. I do make "house" calls for emergeny calls, if someone is too sick or the terminally ill inmates.

As far as the diseases you ask about, I have never seen a active TB, except one that came with it. Hepatitis C = 30%, AIDS = 2.5%, STD's = 10% Cancer = 3%

At times it can be like a large daycare, when one gets sick a whole bunch get sick

[lm8539]

thank you :)

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

1.) As a nurse, what illnesses do you see occurring most frequently among the inmate population? AIDS/ HIV? TB? Pneumonia? Hepatitis? Anything else?

We have some HIV/AIDS cases, but not a disproportionate number. I have only seen one active TB case in nine years of correctional practice. We see various aches and pains, toothaches (many inmates have very bad dental problems) and injuries (both from assaults and accidents).

2.) What special skills would you say are necessary to work with the inmate population as opposed to working in a regular hospital?

You have to be able to set aside your feelings about what the men/women you are caring for have done to become incarcerated. I make it a point not to try to find out. You also have to develop a bit of an edge, so that you temper the caring/nurturing aspect of nursing care to fit the clientele. The "touchy-feely" style of nursing can easily be misinterpreted as romantic interest in this environment. You have to keep a degree of detachment.

3.) How do the inmates treat you? Are they cooperative and respectful?

Probably 98 percent of them are respectful. They know that medical staff is often in a position to give them something they want. Cooperative is another question entirely. Compliance with treatment and medication regimens is a big problem. Some inmates expect you to fix everything that is wrong with them regardless of how much they have abused their bodies and neglected their own health.

4.) How do you deal with manipulative behavior?

Generally I call the inmate on it. I am fine with complying with a request as long as it is reasonable, but play games with me and we're done.

5.) Where do you see your patients? Do they always come to you in a prison medical office? DO you ever go into the inmate housing/cells?

General population inmates come to us. We see lockdown inmates in the units for pill call, but they generally come to us for evaluation and treatment. We go to the units for man down situations (generally, life- or limb-threatening situations), regardless of what unit it is.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

1.) As a nurse, what illnesses do you see occurring most frequently among the inmate population? AIDS/ HIV? TB? Pneumonia? Hepatitis? Anything else?

I see alot of Hep C. We also have some guys being treated for HIV and AIDS.....

2.) What special skills would you say are necessary to work with the inmate population as opposed to working in a regular hospital?

Excellent assessment skills are necessary, along with sharp clinical skills. These are needed everywhere though, right? A skill that would definitely help is a firm manner, and a strict hand.

3.) How do the inmates treat you? Are they cooperative and respectful?

They treat me fine. I work in the Infirmary and pretty much have the same guys. I have only run inti 2 that were rude, crude and disgusting little bas**ards.

4.) How do you deal with manipulative behavior?

I ignore it.

5.) Where do you see your patients? Do they always come to you in a prison medical office? DO you ever go into the inmate housing/cells?

I am in the Infirmary usually, although at times I do have to assist in outpatient, where we have a large room with tables hat are separated by curtains.