I recently re-listened to a discussion with nurse leaders working in the Idaho State Prison system on the Correctional Nursing Today podcast and I began to think about issues with clinical communication in our specialty. Correctional nurses, of course, are not the only nurses challenged to communicate effectively with providers to ensure safe and effective care delivery, but we must always…
Read More
Words are powerful and influential, not only when spoken, but when written. As healthcare professionals, we must be diligent to use non-stigmatizing and non-biased language in our medical record documentation. I recently read a health record that documented a patient encounter that clearly conveyed the personal (negative) opinion of the health staff member about the patient and his presenting complaint….
Read More
Ectoparasites – scabies and lice – are often seen in the correctional environment, especially in the jail population. Correctional nurses must know the usual treatments that may be ordered for their patients with an infestation. They also must be knowledgeable about the patent education that is required for their patients to help prevent spread the infection, and to ensure that…
Read More