This aughta be fun: List the terms/slang/correctional nursing lingo for us newbies

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Nursing Education, LTC, and HHC.

i have picked up on some terms as i have been working my way threw each and every thread and response in all 19 pages of this forum. i am very new to corrections, in fact i never even gave it consideration in all of my 20 yrs as a nurse. i have interviewed at our local county jail, and have interviews for our local fl state prison for women and also our local state prison for men (across the road from the female prison).

i have seen words like:

the hole (maximum security???) is that right?

bullpen- what does this refer to?

drunk tank- sounds self explanitory i suppose

disp.- what is that?

i read that "incident reports" (i think) were referred to as 1033, any other numbers that are universal in the practice of corrections? can anyone clarify this? what does your compound call an incident report or a varience?

how many have been propositioned or have seen the male masterbating?

i am not afraid to venture into corrections and would feel very safe with the c/o's present.

so tell me some new terms or words that are specific to correctional nursing and their meaning, so i can build my vocabulary and also know what is been said in orientation, as to not appear stupid.

thanks in advance for your help. this is a very important matter to me, because i want to be 100 percent successful and at least know what my coworkers are talking about, or what it means without asking to many newbie q's and appearing stupid.

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Specializes in DIALYSIS, ICU/CCU, ONCOLOGY, CORRECTIONS.
i have picked up on some terms as i have been working my way threw each and every thread and response in all 19 pages of this forum. i am very new to corrections, in fact i never even gave it consideration in all of my 20 yrs as a nurse. i have interviewed at our local county jail, and have interviews for our local fl state prison for women and also our local state prison for men (across the road from the female prison).

i have seen words like:

the hole (maximum security???) is that right?

bullpen- what does this refer to?

drunk tank- sounds self explanitory i suppose

disp.- what is that?

i read that "incident reports" (i think) were referred to as 1033, any other numbers that are universal in the practice of corrections? can anyone clarify this? what does your compound call an incident report or a varience?

how many have been propositioned or have seen the male masterbating?

i am not afraid to venture into corrections and would feel very safe with the c/o's present.

so tell me some new terms or words that are specific to correctional nursing and their meaning, so i can build my vocabulary and also know what is been said in orientation, as to not appear stupid.

thanks in advance for your help. this is a very important matter to me, because i want to be 100 percent successful and at least know what my coworkers are talking about, or what it means without asking to many newbie q's and appearing stupid.

let me welcome you to corrections. i belive you will find this field of nursing very unique. as far as slang, i think you will find it very regional.

the hole,aka rhu, is where they put individuals that are "bad" boys or girls. the can be put there as either displinary custody (b/c the broke the rules of the institution ) or as administrative custody ( usually the have a separation order from other inmates this is kind of a protective custody)

bullpen i am not sure but i would guess it might be yaed, where the inmates go for outside recreation.

disp. have to see how it is uses but i believe it is short for dispensary

the 1033 i think if i remember the thread is in ca which is there version of the incident report in pa it is an extrodinary incident report dc 121a

it is the number that is universal to the state only. there are counth state and federal prisons any we are all different. if you don't know, never hesitate to ask, after all you are new to corrections and remember that the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

as an after thought the hole is aka rhu ( restricted housing unit ) shu (segregatated housing unit) segregation isolation and solitary.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Nursing Education, LTC, and HHC.

Thanks so much.. any other terms ya all use out there I should learn??

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People say I'm full of "chit." :(

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Specializes in DIALYSIS, ICU/CCU, ONCOLOGY, CORRECTIONS.
Thanks so much.. any other terms ya all use out there I should learn??

CHIT a metal tag with your name on that you exchange for keys

POC psychiatric observation cell for suicide watch

WICKET a opening in the door through which you can pass meds supplies ect

GBMI guilty but mentally ill

PVP parole violator

ATA authorized temporary absence I/M out to court

CCC community corrections center aka halfway house

GP or POP general population

SNU special needs unit for I/M with MH/MR dx

N/C new commitment or admission to facility

DOC department of corrections (state)

BOP bureau of prisons (federal)

That's what i can think off for now

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Specializes in ER, PACU, CORRECTIONAL HEALTH, FLIGHT.

long time prison nurse here

here is the best resource for prison slang

http://members.tripod.com/catchout/dictionary/DICT.html

now....one that you might not find in there, and one that i hear ALOT of in prisons (male prisons, that is) is inmates exclaiming "kill shot"..so lets hear if any of yall know what they mean by that.......(i do, but want to know if it is just a regional thang/texas thang, or widely used throughout the US)

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Nursing Education, LTC, and HHC.

Thank You very much for the replies. I truly appreiciate it very much!

Monica

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I'd also like to welcome you to corrections. I think you will find it a very different type of nursing.

How about some of the more common ones like:

Shank: a prison made knife

Pruno: prison made alcohol

Cadillacing: a mode of passing from one cell to another

Green: a new comer to corrections

PCer: a protective custody inmate usually associated with a child molester

PCing up: an inmate going into protective custody

Cell Warior: someone who will talk smak behind the door but when confronted will back down

HRP: high risk potential

STG: security threat groups

Food Slot or Food Flap: same as a WICKET

Tier or Block: a housing unit

Train: transporting inmates from one prison to another via van

Kite: a request form inmates use to request services

I know that there are many more but just can't think of anymore right now. Anyhow I hope you enjoy your choice in corrections and agree with nancykday that the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

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Specializes in DIALYSIS, ICU/CCU, ONCOLOGY, CORRECTIONS.

Check this page out also

www.convictsandcops.com/slang.htm

Alsi if the inmate yell 5 - o 5 -o ; it means staff and or CO coming on the floor as in Hawaii 5 0 it means the i/m is up to something that they don't wish to be witnessed

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Specializes in ER, PACU, CORRECTIONAL HEALTH, FLIGHT.

the only thing i have called the food slot is a "BEAN CHUTE"......nothing else.

do yall use 10 codes? fights are called over radio e.g. 10-10x4 means inmate against inmate, four involved.....etc

do yall use radios? i have always had my own radio

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Specializes in DIALYSIS, ICU/CCU, ONCOLOGY, CORRECTIONS.
the only thing i have called the food slot is a "BEAN CHUTE"......

we call it a " wicket " don't know why the only 10 code we ever use is 10 -20

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Specializes in ER, PACU, CORRECTIONAL HEALTH, FLIGHT.

"picket"-the round plexiglass area where the CO's are stationed, where door controls, radios, OC/CS gas etc are kept, surrounded by cellblocks

"down range"-the term used for the long walk through the farm/prison i worked at, with rec yards on both sides, outside all the cellblock buildings

will think of more as they come to me

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