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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Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Hypertension
Hypertension is one of the most common chronic conditions encountered in correctional healthcare. Most nurses learn about blood pressure ranges, medications, and the risks associated with uncontrolled hypertension during nursing school. What took me longer to learn were some of the practical lessons that come from caring for patients with hypertension in a correctional setting. One of the first things…
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The Quiet Leadership of the Correctional Nurse
Correctional nurses rarely think of themselves as leaders. We don’t have the titles, the corner offices, or the visible authority that people often associate with leadership. But every day behind the wall, correctional nurses lead in ways that profoundly shape patient care, safety, and the culture of the facility. Leadership begins the moment we step onto the unit. We are…
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