When I review a medical record, I rarely look at a single note by itself. I read the record from beginning to end, and over time the individual entries begin to tell a story. Sometimes the story is reassuring. Sometimes it shows something that no one recognized while it was happening. Consider a patient who submits a sick call request…
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Seizure disorders are common in correctional healthcare, and many nurses become comfortable caring for patients who have a history of seizures. One of the first lessons I learned, however, is that the seizure itself is often only part of the assessment. When a seizure is reported, it is natural to focus on the event. How long did it last? What…
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Over the past thirty years, I have had the privilege of working alongside hundreds of correctional nurses. They have practiced in county jails, state prisons, federal facilities, juvenile centers, and detention facilities across the country. They have been LPN/LVNs, RNs, APRNs, new graduates, seasoned clinicians, staff nurses, managers, educators, and leaders. Although their backgrounds and experiences have been very different,…
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