Something doesn't feel right

Published

I've been a mature nurse (female) in corrections for a few years now and would like the feedback of the seasoned veterans of this forum. I've been a nurse for over 20 yrs. Please bear with me as I give you the scenerio.

I work in an area that is fairly isolated (at times) after count time and on the weekends. Naturally I have a radio, but the person who picks up the body alarm leaves after 8 hrs. (Right away I think I should be the one who gets the body alarm, but she has been at the facility for a number of years...it's a political issue when it really shouldn't be.)

I have an inmate worker who helps in my area. He's a "good" worker and has caused me no problems. He stays pretty busy with the day-to-day work while he's in my area, so there is no time for the deep cleaning that my work area needs.

He usually leaves about the same time that other employees in my area leave. There are a couple of other inmate workers (who are friends of my worker) that work on another floor but that are not assigned to my area. They have, on their own time and without getting paid and with me asking them if they had cleared this with their supervisors, come to my work area and buffed/waxed my floor, cleaned my windows, fan, etc. These two workers have been at the institution a long time and are good at what they do and dependable, but I have an uncomfortable feeling that, despite all their efforts and seemingly good intent, feels like a scenerio straight out of "Games Criminals Play." I don't smoke, don't do drugs, and have never given anything to any inmate. I have written my share of incident reports, so I believe I have a reputation for standing my ground.

I have never played power games like some of the staff do and I always treat them like human beings and always say "thank you" for a job well done. I am a Christian. I have been told, BY INMATES, even these 2, that some inmates have misinterpreted my kindness for weakness..........and then they get to see the stern, no-nonsense side of me when they didn't see it coming. These workers are aware of the inmates (via inmate.com :chuckle) I've written up and have remarked that they "had it coming."

So that being said, the work I needed done is nearly complete and there is no excuse for these 2 workers to "hang out" in my area. These inmates have not been troublemakers and I don't want them to be trouble for me either. I feel like I need to talk to somebody at my institution, but I don't know who. At this point they've done nothing really wrong.....except I feel I need to let someone in authority know in case they might be out of bounds. When they've come, it has been very infrequent and always during open move or free movement time. They leave on the activity move. I am pleasant, but continue with my work while they are there.....this is not a hang out place....and I have a lot of work I need to get done at the end of a day of seeing patients.

There is nothing these guys could hold over my head, but that gut feeling won't go away. Please give me your feedback!

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Specializes in ER- Correctional.

Correct me if I'm mis-understanding. You are in a Correctional setting, & alone with Inmates? Where are the Correctional Officers?

On my rotation, I am the only night nurse in the facility of 500 plus inmates. We have one inmate janitor, who cleans at night. An officer is with him, & any other inmates who comes into the medical area(day or night). Everyone,that works in the facility,carries a numbered radio. I am not familiar with a body alarm, but our radios,have a "Man Down" button ,that can be pushed/activated.Officers run to the site of where that particular radio is. I would think security would, come first in your setting, but then again, I work in a Maximum Security Prison, which is different than a Medium one. Also If you use a body alarm, & there is only one, you need to tell the other Nurse to leave it with you...unless it belongs to her personally , of course...

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Specializes in ER- Correctional.

Where are the Correctional Officers, when the inmates are cleaning in your department? Surely you are not left alone with them? I am the only night nurse on my rotation( I work a week on/week off schedule) in a facility that houses 500 plus inmates. Even the night janitor(an inmate) is not left alone to work, without an officer to oversee him....As a matter of fact, in our medical department, there is always an officer present, when an inmate is here. Security first ,you know....I am not familiar with a body alarm. Our radios' have a "man-down" button that can be activated, if we need immediate officers...But if the body alarm, is facility owned, an not a personal one, I would talk to your supervisor, about it being left in the department, for your use, when "you are alone"....Of course I work in a Maximum Security Prison....Oppps the dreaded double post!

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An answer to your question: the body alarm is facility-owned. This is not a maximum security. There are no officers in my area; because of the layout of our building, they are one level down from me. If I needed it, I could get assistance in 15 sec. (or less) just by using my radio.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

You are absolutely correct about this being like a scenario from the book "Games Criminals Play"! Do you have a supervisor you could discuss this with? I would definitely document this in an incident/occurrence report or whatever means you have to document this.

I am almost finished reading the book and I couldn't agree more with you on the "set up". My vote is disclose to someone, document to someone!

Good luck, let us know what happens. :typing

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Specializes in Psych..

This situation sounds a lot like an article I just read for my Psych nursing class, called Downing the Duck.

Your situation, unfortunately, does sound like a setup.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

If you have really worked in this setting for as long as you say you have then you know that if something in your "gut" says it is wrong than it is.

Step up to the plate and discuss this with the correct people before you find yourself in a situation that you can not get out of or causes you to lose your license.

I hope it is not too late to do so

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Specializes in Emergency; Corrections.

You should be able to go to your supersvisor and relate you don't feel comfortable with this situation. She can talk to the work supervisor of the IM's and remind them the IM's need to be where they're supposed to be. I'm a 6' 2" 300lb guy, but I don't allow IM's in my area unless a CO is there (since I can't always watch what they're doing if I'm doing Nursing stuff).

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
that gut feeling won't go away.

Go with your gut feeling...

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Hi RealityCheck, GO with your gut instinct!!! Call the area supervisor for your unit (Sgt. or Lt. perhaps). Tell them you do not need the workers tonight and want them to return to their cells/dorm. Call the Nurse Administrator (if you don't see them when you come on duty) with your concerns and tell them that you just don't need such 'chores' to be done on your shift. If an emergency comes up like a blood spill then the inmate will be called upon at that time. If the Nurse Administrator does not respond to your concerns in a very timely manner I would put in writing your concerns to their boss (?Dep. of Administration?) I am not sure the chain of command for your place..sorry. Then I would get with the Union and file a grievence. In NYS I have to do the grievence first and the Union will notify the higher ups so do make sure you know the chain of command and Union recommedations before writing anything. My Union is online so check for you in case you don't have a current contract book. I really hope this helps and these two inmates find other programs to work at instead of your area.

One more thing I would like to add...at my jail the Union paid for the personal alarms and anyone who requests one is entitled to one regardless of what Union they belong to. Ask the CO in the orificenal as you pass through for an alarm to be assigned to you and just remember to ask for that specific number. That should put an end to your sharing an alarm. STAY SAFE!!

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Specializes in corrections, pediatrics, geriatrics, ...

Okay, I too must ask why are you being left alone with inmates? No matter what their security classification, you should have an officer to supervise when they are there. Does your radio have an alarm? The red button on top? What could they want to come and do you a favor for? Smuggling things in and out...other inmates stash things that they then come and pick up? Inmates who volunteer and do this of their own volition are the ones who get my hackles up...I would be calling a supervisor to let them know that these guys were there unrequested and ask for an officer to step down until they are finished working. And they could hold anything over your head..there are two of them and one of you and they can say you did or allowed anything...it's your word against theirs...They try to buddy up to you saying these other inmates deserved to get written up and so on...just a way to try to get your guard down...Inmates typically see the nurses as just an extension of the officers, and not their friends..Please be careful and cover your butt!

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Never trust the trustee.

Do not be alone with inmates. Too dangerous. Go with your gut feeling and put a stop to this precarious situation at once.

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