I was dinner last night for a host of hungry little beasts. I may have been a bit under the influence as i didnt feel any of them. So I didnt want deet bug spray and chose to go without. Now, I must say I am slightly less concerned with chemicals and just want relief.
Sometimes being a jail nurse can be so rewarding and other times you leave feeling defeated. This week I had both happen.
First the warm fuzzy feelings. Had a prostitute come turn herself in to escape her pimp. Yes, this does actually happen. Well of course pimp comes and pays her bail. So now the problem, we have to release her but pimp is waiting. What would you do? We cannot legally keep her any longer. A few phone calls later and she is set up on her way to a safe shelter that will protect her. They also provide training to help her start her life again. Work and life skills. Ah, makes a jail nurse proud.
Then you have the ones who make you want to bang your head against a wall. Recently had an inmate in with some pretty yucky dog bites. Instead of letting us take care of them they refuse all wound care. Refuse antibiotics , refuse to even have it looked at. We cannot force medical care but somehow we are responsible for the negative outcome. It's so frustrating that this inmate threatened to sue us if something bad happens because they choose to not let themselves be helped or help themselves. Even gave them the option to do wound care themselves but still refused. Some people I will never understand.
Stressed out today after work and its of course raining. I was dreaming on a liquor store drive through when I saw the most amazing sign ever. Beer delivery!!! Minimums and delivery charges mean nothing to get booze at home and not have messy hair.
What makes a grown man think that smearing poop would be a good idea. The first time I saw this at the jail I was shocked. I just couldn't believe the staff when they said how normal it was. Now after four years I have seen and smelled more poop then I ever did as a cna in a nursing home. I can almost say that I understand the method heads all tweaking out doing it. However, the perfectly sober man who is doing it because he is mad. That makes me question his sanity. Not to mention his parents. Did this work at home to get what he wanted? Maybe that in itself explains why he is incarcerated. In our jail they get to sit in the room with thier own feces until they comply and clean it up. Only when it interferes with safety and security do they move the inmate and have other inmates clean it up. If I ever go to jail there is no way I would ever be an inmate worker as I know what they have to clean up at some point. I also would not want to sit or lay anywhere. We have a woman right now refusing to be booked in. She is laying in a cell that two days ago was covered in feces. I think of that every time I do wound care on her. Yuck! Maybe if someone told her she would want to move. Would just have to leave out that the rest of the jail is just as gross. Haha medical probably being the worst. We only have a janitor not an actual cleaning person.
So have you seen poop drawings? My favorite was the man drawing a poopstache on his face.
Watched this movie this week. It was so eye opening. As a nurse we are taught so much about medication and treatments to heal illnesses. We often forget how the body can heal itself. I know that I often grab a pill for whatever I am having a problem with instead of finding the cause. For example I often get headaches. I recently have paid attention to my body and have learned the main causes behind my headaches. One I am usually dehydrated or hungry, both are easily fixed. Then I get stress or tension headaches. I have learned relaxation and stretches to alleviate that pain too. I do still find myself grabbing for an easy fix and popping a pill sometimes. Baby steps right? I somehow convinced my husband to do a juice fast like in the movie. We haven't started yet. I bought a juicer today. We need to prep our bodies first. Wean the soda addiction and cut out our processed foods and sugar. I am excited to try it and pray I can find the strength and self control to not eat for ten days. I know it will be worth it. I want to try it and may consider it further for treatment of my PCOS. I want to get my body ready to try and get pregnant. Wish me luck!
One of the worst feelings as a nurse is feelings helpless. Almost as bad as helping those you unfortunately don't feel deserve help.
Today, I felt so helpless. In the jail we often have vulnerable adults come in. Men and women who have no comprehension of why they are there. Our job is to help them while they are in our care. Many don't understand why they can't just leave. I hate that I can't actually help them. I can give them meds and help keep them safe in jail. But what about when they get out? There is often no place for them to go. There are just not enough beds, not enough resources. It breaks my heart to see grown children come to jail again and again because we as a society have failed them. But, the gang banger who comes in is on medical assistance, wellfare, and housing assistance. Meaning his drug deal money can go for more drugs, gold teeth, and Bling-bling. All this while I work over time to pay my bills and my tax dollars can't even help those in need. There is so much to this subject. Working in a jail has opened my eyes and made me so sad at times.
