Safety of Jail Rn with no deputys or guards?

Blackcat99 · Jan 20, 2011

Yikes!!!! No that doesn't seem safe at all. :eek: I worked at a state pen many years ago and a few times I was left alone with inmates. They would tell me after the fact "We were short staffed tonight so we didn't have anyone to send to help out." However, when I worked in a jail I always had an officer present. ALWAYS!!!!!

SilentfadesRPA · Jan 25, 2011

One answer for this problem - resign.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2011

When I started out in law enforcement I put a little time in on the jail floor (after I'd quit my teaching job). The jail nurse always did sick call by herself, passed out morning meds by herself, etc. She wore the same uniform we did and had been to the rather lengthy 40 hour :rolleyes: jail standards training that all county jailers in my state are required to attend. It was never an issue for her. She could pepper spray them as well as anybody, and it was never an issue. She transported a lot of the low risk ones in a patrol car to the doctor and dentist offices when they needed to go too.

T -Dog · Jan 28, 2011

I wear scrubs so there is no doubt to anyone who sees me that I'm a nurse, not a deputy. I haven't had any jail standards training. Last week after doing sick call on an IM in the rec room I let the IM walk back to his cell by himself. I was later told by a deputy that I have to walk the IM all the way back to their cell because there are often carts in the hallway that have nail clippers or razors on them that they could grab and use as a weapon. I didn't know. I have thought about getting my own pepper spray to carry but I would have to check with the captain to see if I'm allowed to do so. My husband says the same thing as silentfades.....resign.

coastalcattery · Jan 29, 2011

Wow! I can't believe they have you do these things w/o a C.O. present. I have 5 yrs working in county jails, this would be unheard of! Unsafe for you and a security risk for the facility. I'm curious - how big of a facility is it?

veetach · Jan 30, 2011

I work in a county jail and we NEVER pass meds unattended. It is our jail policy for our pod deputies to actually observe the inmates taking the meds... do you carry a duress alarm or radio?

BeachBum66 · Jan 31, 2011

Nurses are never left alone with inmates at our jail either. I would quit that job yesterday.

katkonk, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2011

I agree with others, this is totally unacceptable, even if another poster said it was routine where he/she worked. Nurses are NOT correctional officers, and are viewed as more vulnerable. I would not risk my life for any job, any where. I understand the considerations of needing an income and a tight job market, and the fact that you may like your job there (except for this MAJOR consideration of being by yourself). I would take it up the chain of command, if no satisfaction and you really still want to stay, I would write a senator/congressman and explain the situation. Our elected officials can have some influence when they call a warden and ask some questions. Of course, this may put you on their you-know-what list, and then you may have trouble, but whoever follows you might not! If you cannot get a remedy for this situation quickly, resign and report it so that hopefully they will be forced to correct the situation before the next poor soul that works there has to do the same.

bymysoultosqueezeRN · Feb 9, 2011

wow thats just wrong, you should bring this to someones attention! you shouldn't go to work until this is taken care of.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2011

I agree with others, this is totally unacceptable, even if another poster said it was routine where he/she worked. Nurses are NOT correctional officers, and are viewed as more vulnerable. I would not risk my life for any job, any where. I understand the considerations of needing an income and a tight job market, and the fact that you may like your job there (except for this MAJOR consideration of being by yourself). I would take it up the chain of command, if no satisfaction and you really still want to stay, I would write a senator/congressman and explain the situation. Our elected officials can have some influence when they call a warden and ask some questions. Of course, this may put you on their you-know-what list, and then you may have trouble, but whoever follows you might not! If you cannot get a remedy for this situation quickly, resign and report it so that hopefully they will be forced to correct the situation before the next poor soul that works there has to do the same.

I'm a he, and you're "risking" your life working in a prison. They do riot and get loose from time to time, lol. Good fun really.

T -Dog · Feb 21, 2011

It makes me feel like I'm not just being a big wussy when most of you, with more experience in a corrections setting than I, agree with me. The jail averages 70 inmates. I can't go through the chain of command because it was the captains idea, and he's the first link in the chain. The head RN doesn't have any problem with this, but he is a male and the other 2 RN's and myself are female. Allthough if an inmate is going to go off I don't think it matters what gender the RN is. Last week I had to send an inmate to the ER. The deputy's were all upset about this because one deputy has to take the inmate to the ER and stay with them, which leaves only one deputy working the floor and one in the control room. They were worried that it was a safety issue! Really? What about my safety? My options in this situation, according to the head nurse, are to accept it or resign. This town is small and there is definately a good ol' boys club here. The treasurer of the jail is currently being accused of all kinds of misdeeds by the county sheriff and this poor woman has been persecuted by the media. She underwent a Dept. of Justice investigation and they could find no wrong-doings on her part. What I'm saying is I don't want to go over the captains or sheriff's heads because I would just be the target of the next witch hunt.