Not only is understanding dental health important for correctional nurses as they are typically the first healthcare professional responding to patients’ concerns during screening, sick call, and emergencies, but the mouth can provide clues to many medical conditions and drug side effects. Here are some of the most common conditions that can yield clues during an oral exam. Anemia Lack…
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Man-Down Emergencies: Are You Ready?
Emergency response, a fact of life in healthcare, has some interesting aspects to consider in a custody setting. Correctional nurses are called upon to respond to a wide range of injuries and emergencies, from inmate scuffles in the yard and suicide attempts, to unresponsive incarcerated individuals in the housing units. Are you prepared for the next emergency you will encounter…
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Correctional Nurse Clinical Practice Update: Dental Concepts IV, Dental Triage: What is an Emergency?
Correctional nurses regularly make decisions about the need for emergency treatment of dental conditions. These decisions occur during the triage of sick call requests or as a result of a “man down” emergency call in the facility. What are some key findings that indicate a need for emergency dental treatment? Breathing and Swallowing Emergency evaluation starts with the ABC’s (Airway-Breathing-Circulation)….
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