Received employment offer

[hb4hikes]

A big thanks to all you seasoned correctional nurses for all the information and insight in this specialty. I never had even thought of corrections nursing previously until discovering this site and looking through the different specialties. I have been burning completely out on MR/DD/MI nursing due to the hours (24/7 on call) for years now. So I started researching the local correctional facilities. Never realized how many prisons were in NC and within an hours drive.

I have just received an offer for employment, looking at a Sat/Sun 12h schedule. This prison is the entrance for most prisoners into the system. So I understood there are about 45-75 inmates arriving daily for processing. Also, there is a 14 bed infirmary. I saw the med room, a lot of inmates self medicate there (didn't realize that was an option). Techs pass the remainder of the meds and draw up insulins. My question at this point is what exactly is processing and what is the quality assurance standard for inmates who self medicate in other facilities?

Thanks Holly

[uraqt2]

Processing an inmate into a facility is getting a H&P done, getting all labs done (in my state they include HIV & syphilis also if they already have Hep C we include a liver panel), and TB screening. Basically you have to establish a medical record that will follow the inmate throughout their sentence. I must say the facility I work at does not do "processing" but talking with other nurses in the state that do, this is what I've picked up. As far as the quality assurance standards for inmates self medicating I think that is something you should follow up with you state and facility regulations. Hope this helps and welcome to corrections.