Common Mental Health Disorders for the Correctional Nurse Estimates are that nearly 67% of inmates have a serious mental illness, while over half report at least one mental condition (Bureau of Justice, 2021). Even if you are providing nursing care for a medical condition, a co-occurring mental health condition can affect the nurse-patient relationship. Mental…
Abdominal Assessment for the Correctional Nurse: Lower Abdominal Pain Abdominal pain is perhaps one of the most frequent complaints listed on a sick call/request to be seen slip in the correctional environment. Changes to routine and diet, stress, and the “unmasking” of symptoms as patients become “detoxed” from substances like alcohol and drugs may contribute…
Homeostasis and Electrolytes for the Correctional Nurse Homeostasis refers to the body’s ability to maintain a stable internal environment in spite of changes that are occurring externally. It is a healthy state that occurs through the constant adjustment of biochemical and physiological mechanisms, also known as the body’s dynamic equilibrium. Variables that impact the maintenance…
Inmate Manipulation in Corrections Every day, inmates spend their time watching and waiting. They watch with deep interest all that occurs in the facility, waiting until they identify just the right person to target in their manipulation game. Often, inmates direct their attention to the healthcare staff, as healthcare staff are stereotypically sympathetic and wanting…
Abdominal Assessment for the Correctional Nurse: Constipation and Diarrhea Constipation and diarrhea are common complaints in the correctional environment. In this class, the basic abdominal assessment skills will be reviewed. Constipation and diarrhea will be explained, and potential reasons for each will be discussed. Common nursing interventions for the patient with constipation and diarrhea will…
Abdominal Assessment for the Correctional Nurse: Basic Assessment With this class, we begin a three-part series on Abdominal Assessment for the Correctional Nurse. This first class will include basic abdominal assessment, expected normal findings and potential abnormalities in each region. The second and third class will review abdominal assessment techniques, and will discuss in more…
Documentation for the Correctional Nurse Documentation is one of the most critical skills nurses perform, regardless of the setting in which they practice. Accurate, detailed charting provides a clinical picture of the patient and a chronological history of their health care. Nursing documentation enables effective continuity of care for the patient. It also provides legal…
Diabetes for the Correctional Nurse In the US Department of Justice’s Special Report on the Medical Problems of State and Federal Prisoners and Jail Inmates, 2011-12 that was published in early 2015 (most current as of 2018-2019), a 200% increase in the number of incarcerated individuals with diabetes was documented from 2004 to this report. …
Wound Care for the Correctional Nurse In the correctional environment, depending upon the population and the type of facility (jail or prison), the wounds typically seen could be acute or chronic, but all require nursing assessment, treatment and monitoring. In this class, both acute and chronic wounds will be discussed. Obtaining the wound history, conducting a…
Excited Delirium It is 5:00 pm on a Saturday night, and Mr. Joel arrives at Booking in the County Jail in the custody of four Deputies. The Deputies tell you that he was picked up at the train station because he was “acting crazy”, pulling his clothes off and screaming that he “did not want…