Safety of Jail Rn with no deputys or guards?

[T -Dog]

I recently started work as an RN at a county jail. Due to budget problems the nurse has to make her med pass and do sick call alone; no deputys or anyone else present. This means I am passing meds by myself, locked in a cell block with as many as 10 male or female inmates. There are cameras, but if I needed immediate help I am at the mercy of whoever is in the control room watching, and who is also responsible for opening and closing the doors and radioing for help on my behalf. Sick call is done in the rec room; just me and 1 IM at a time locked in there together. They are not restrained in any way. I don't feel this is safe at all! Any feedback would be appreciated! Do any other jails do this? Thanks!

[katkonk, BSN, RN]

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.

Understood...the proverbial "rock and the hard place". Just be sure and document, in writing, each date and time you complained and voiced concerns about the risk you are taking by being by yourself. If you choose to stay, then you ARE at risk. If you ever are assaulted, then you have documentation to provide an attorney to say that you noted and shared your concerns and no action was taken. Document who you spoke with, the date, the time, what their response was, etc. Meanwhile, quietly keep shopping for another job. Good luck with everything.