What Thirty Years Behind the Wall Has Taught Me When I first began working in correctional healthcare more than thirty years ago, I thought I was coming to care for a unique patient population. I quickly discovered that I was also entering a profession unlike any other. Correctional nursing has challenged me, humbled me, frustrated me, and inspired me. It…
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Correctional Nurse Professional Practice Update: Why Reassessment Matters
You evaluated a patient an hour ago. The vital signs were within normal limits, your focused nursing assessment was reassuring, and the patient returned to housing. As you finish documenting the encounter, another nurse asks, “How’s the patient doing now?” It’s a simple question, but one that can be surprisingly difficult to answer. Unless you’ve reassessed the patient, you don’t…
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Clinical Decision Making: The Headache in Medication Line
The morning medication line is moving quickly. Officers are trying to keep the line flowing, and dozens of incarcerated persons are still waiting for their medications. As one patient reaches the medication window, he quietly says, “I’ve had a terrible headache since last night. Can I get some Tylenol?” You pause for a moment. Do you stop medication administration long…
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