Chronic Care Patient Education: Hypertension in Corrections As healthcare professionals, we are constantly providing patient education as we go about our assessments and treatments. In corrections, our practice is an extension of Community Health. We assess and treat many of the same illnesses that are prevalent in our community; often, however, their prevalence is higher…
Hypertension for the Correctional Nurse In February of 2015, the Department of Justice Bureau of Statistics published the latest Special Report of Medical Problems of State and Federal Prisoners and Jail Inmates, 2011-2012. This report continues to be the most current in 2020. In it, the prevalence of heart-related problems in state and federal prisoners…
Correctional Nursing Basics: The Respiratory System The respiratory system is responsible for supplying oxygen to the body and removing carbon dioxide, which is a waste product of metabolism. It includes the lungs, airway, blood vessels and muscles. The process of respiration involves a series of steps, starting with the inhalation of air and ending with…
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…
Asthma for the Correctional Nurse I As nurses in corrections, we see a large number of patients affected by asthma. Many have poor asthma control due to their inability to purchase medication, knowledge deficit about their chronic condition or general apathy about their health. Helping the patient achieve and maintain asthma control requires patient education…
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…
Update 2022: Pain Management for the Michigan Correctional Nurse According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (2022), Michigan has a serious problem with prescription drug misuse, most notably, opioids and benzodiazepines. Data from the Michigan Overdose Data to Action Dashboard indicates that there were 2738 overdose deaths in 2020; in 2021 there…
Endocarditis for the Correctional Nurse Infective endocarditis is an infection of the lining of the heart (endocardium) and often involves the valves of the heart as well as any areas with abnormal connections between the chambers of the heart or its blood vessels. It occurs when bacteria in the bloodstream clump on previously injured heart…