Sprains and Strains for the Correctional Nurse In the correctional facility, patients often incur strain and sprain injuries as they work or are active on the rec yard. While most facilities have nursing protocols to care for these injuries, it is important for correctional nurses to be able to identify the presentation of a strain…
Seizure Disorder for the Correctional Nurse Some days, it seems like everyone we care for in corrections has a seizure disorder. Seizures may be the result of childhood epilepsy, trauma and traumatic brain injury, drug and alcohol use, brain tumors, or any combination of these conditions. The prevalence of seizure disorder in the correctional facilities…
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…
Suicide Prevention in Corrections Incarcerated individuals are three times more likely to commit suicide that those in the community. This is due to the incarcerated populations’ demographics; their decreased ability to cope with the day-to-day stresses of incarceration; the facility’s lack of sufficient staff or staff training in suicide prevention; and the lack of access…
Rhabdomyolysis for the Correctional Nurse Rhabdomyolysis means the “dissolution of skeletal muscle”. It is a syndrome caused by direct muscle injury, or a mismatch between energy production and energy consumption that results in a breakdown of muscle cells. This breakdown results in the leakage of potentially toxic intracellular contents into the systemic circulation. While there…
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…