klstephe

I am a recovery RN at a state hospital, so we do all inmate surgeries. As with any patient, I get pain under control before discharge. When I first started there, all my inmate patients told me it takes hours after they arrive back to the prison infirmary to get any pain meds. I spoke to a friend of a friend that was a prison RN and they said it’s the ‘red tape’ to get the orders in. So now I always give their first dose oral med right before leaving (about an hour drive) whether they are in a lot of pain or not. Does the ‘red tape’ ring true for you?

At first I thought maybe drug seeking, but after the friend mentioned the red tape, I felt like it was the humane thing to do in my practice.

Thanks for the response. Although I should have clarified these patients are already inmates. They are transported by armed guards to my facility, have surgery, then return to prison. Does that make a difference? I never know how their arm got broken, rotator cuff torn, etc., and don’t want to know. They are my patient and just want to give good care.