Topic: Health & Wellness / Mandated CPR On Inmates: Good Or Not So Good?

Well, I don’t know what the RN’s make where you live, but that stinks! Honestly, you guys don’t get near the credit you’re deserved.

Topic: Health & Wellness / Mandated CPR On Inmates: Good Or Not So Good?

Really the only training we get is some self defense tactics, some gang related information and how Inmates can be manipulative, etc. I was there 3 years before they sent me to the training! So far I’ve been lucky and have had no problems. After being a staff nurse for 6 years, I an now a Nurse Manager, so I don’t deal too much with the Inmates like I used to. And the rules at our prison our CLEAR-any staff other than custody DOES NOT go anywhere near an altercation with an Inmate. That is for custody staff only. As a matter of fact, when they call a code for custody to respond, all civilian staff better get out of the way or they will bowl you over!! The only time they want medical around is after the area is secure if anyone needs medical attention. And I’m sure you must make near what an RN makes! LOL Our CO’s do pretty good depending on how long they’ve been in.

Topic: Health & Wellness / Mandated CPR On Inmates: Good Or Not So Good?

Thank you for understanding what I was trying to get at. I certainly meant no disrespect toward CO’s. You guys have a very stressful job that I couldn’t do. It’s stressful enough working in medical with Inmates, although I do love my job. And I completely understand that security comes first. Life or death situation or not, medical is NOT allowed to enter any area that is not secure. Everyone that works in medical knows that and some nurses don’t stay at the job because they can’t understand that concept. However, no matter what, we have to remember we work in a prison with criminals (the majority of which have an infectious disease). I don’t judge them (hence my posting about CO’s at least starting CPR. After all, they are human beings), but I know their games and what some of them are capable of. I have been in corrections for 9 yrs and I have to say that in those 9 yrs, I have learned just as much from custody staff as I have from medical staff. You may not get much respect from the community (Ex: prison “guards”-which by the way I was corrected on that my first DAY at the prison! LOL), but you have respect from the majority of the medical staff. Thank you for protecting us and always ensuring our safety at work. Our job would certainly be a lot harder if we didn’t have your help and cooperation! I’m getting off of the subject here, so let me stop rambling!

Topic: Health & Wellness / Mandated CPR On Inmates: Good Or Not So Good?

Our CO’s are trained in CPR but will not perform it if needed. They are also trained in Blood Borne Pathogens and know how to protect themselves. I understand that CO’s and medical look at Inmates differently, but all the units would need to have available is a disposable mouth protector so that CPR can just be initiated until medical arrives. If one fo their fellow co-workers needed CPR, I’m sure they wouldn’t hesitate to do what needed to be done. But keep in mind, ANYONE can have HIV, Hepatitis or any number of infectious diseases, just as other health care workers can. You can’t assume that just because you work with the person or know them that they are not putting you at risk for infectious diseases in a case like that. You take the same precautions with everyone, regardless. For God’s sake, at least do chest compressions. With all due respect, the comment about medical standing around while there is a man down alarm bothered me. Unfortunately we are not trained to respond to those types of things but CO’s ARE trained to do CPR. Any lay person can be trained in CPR. You don’t have to be medically trained to learn these potentially lifesaving measures. And I will say that God forbid I ever saw a CO that I work with in a life threatening situation with an Inmate, believe me or not, I would do whatever I could to help him or her, even if it meant risking injury to myself. People help each other and try to save lives if they have to, Inmates or not. This is a tough field to work in and I have all respect for CO’s, but we need to work together .