Lost

I haven't posted to this site for a while because it became lost, along with the two other blogs that I post to. I hope to bring you more information soon.

For the past eight years I have practiced nursing in an adult male state prison. It has been an interesting journey with lots of surprises and an equal amount of frustration. I'm always asked what it's like working there as a nurse and don't I fear for my safety? To answer the second question is quite easy. I am cautious with all inmates and I don't take anything for granted. These men are in prison for some very violet crimes and I always keep that in mind. However I think that in some ways I am a lot safer inside the walls than on the outside. I know who the criminals are. They are the one's wearing blue clothing with the word "PRISONER" in yellow. On the outside no one wears a sign.

The first question is a lot harder to answer. What I can tell you is that for the most part the health needs of these men are not too much different than those who are not incarcerated. Some health problems seem to be common among the prison population or at a greater concentration. Hepatitis C is is more common in this population than in the general public. Some estimates are ranging between 28% to 68%. IV drug use and inmate/gang affiliated tattoos account for the majority of infections.

Anytime you have a lot of people crowed together in a small space Tuberculosis becomes a concern. PPD skin testing is done continuously for the inmate population and the prison staff. This is one of the corner stones of health care in corrections.

At our institution assaults are low compared to other institutions in the state and the population has a greater share of elderly and sick inmates. A lot of what is seen by the medical staff is very mundane and chronic illnesses. Add to this mix hopeless overcrowding. Simple illnesses then become an epidemic.