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…
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…
Laboratory Diagnostics for the Correctional Nurse Correctional nurses must obtain labs and conduct patient education regarding lab tests on a daily basis. Thus, it is very important that the nurse understands why the test is being ordered for their patient, any special preparation needed, and what the results indicate. This class is a discussion of…
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 documentation 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…
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…
Anticoagulation for the Correctional Nurse In the United States today, anticoagulant therapy is prescribed for individuals who are at risk for deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and stroke due to atrial fibrillation. Historically, and even today, most patients with a blood clotting disorder are treated with warfarin and heparin. These medications require careful monitoring, and…
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…