At intake, you may encounter a patient who seems impatient, fidgety, or easily distracted. They may interrupt, lose track of questions, or appear agitated without an obvious trigger. These behaviors are often attributed to anxiety, substance use, or defiance, but they could also be symptoms of ... Read More about Correctional Nurse Clinical Update: ADHD in Corrections

This post is in response to a request by a nurse manager whose staff had recently dealt with a successful suicide onsite. She asked if I could suggest strategies she could share with her staff, who were very much affected by what happened. In correctional healthcare, we work with individuals who ... Read More about Correctional Nurse Practice Update: Coping and Moving Forward When a Patient Dies by Suicide

A 63-year-old man is screened during booking. The intake nurse notes a blood pressure of 180/98. The man reports he is prescribed Lisinopril 40mg daily, though he hasn’t taken it that day. After verifying the prescription with his community pharmacy, the nurse obtains a continuation order and ... Read More about Correctional Nurse Clinical Update: Understanding the Compliance Trap in Correctional Medicine Administration

If you have heard me present, you know that I believe Intake Screening is one of the most important nursing interventions we do as Correctional Nurses.  Few clinical encounters are as high-risk, or as important, as the initial intake assessment ("Receiving Screening"). The first 24 ... Read More about Correctional Nurse Clinical Update: The First 24 Hours: Nursing Priorities for New Intakes in Correctional Settings

In correctional healthcare, communication isn’t just important—it’s essential. As correctional nurses, we work in a complex, highly structured environment where we are often the first—and sometimes only—healthcare professional with whom patients interact. Our ability to communicate clearly, ... Read More about The Power of Communication in Correctional Nursing