You are the Intake/Booking nurse when Mr. Cushing is arrested and brought to the county jail on Friday evening. He is 28 years old, denies any medical or mental health history, but does admit to using alcohol and methamphetamines “recreationally” for “a while”. When asked to define “recreationally,” he states, “you know, a little every day …. for fun. I am definitely…
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Ms. Burns: Red Eye
Ms. Burns, a 23 year old woman, submitted a Health Service Request form for cold symptoms that had been ongoing for 2-3 days. She arrives for Nurse Sick Call and you immediately note two things – she is wearing “eye-liner” and her eyes are bloodshot. Ms. Burns tells you that she has been having symptoms for the last 48 hours,…
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Mr. Villegos: Abdominal Pain
Mr. Villegos is a 46 year old man with no medical history except alcoholism for the past 20+ years. When asked last week during his Receiving Screening by medical staff, he stated that he has been sober for the past two years prior to incarceration, although he did disclose at that time that he drank pretty steadily for about a…
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Ms. Jonas: Blood in Stool
Ms. Jonas is a 50-year-old woman who was recently arrested by the Federal Marshalls and is housed at your facility. She initiated a Sick Call Request yesterday complaining of rectal bleeding. Today you are the nurse triaging sick call slips, and you see Ms. Jonas in a face-to-face encounter. You learn that she has a history of hypothyroidism and is obese, despite…
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Ms. Bradley: Lightheadedness
An officer calls down to the medical office stating that Ms. Bradley, a 62-year-old woman, is complaining of feeling lightheaded, tired and weak. You respond to the unit and find Ms. Bradley sitting in a wheelchair with a cup of water in her hand, given to her by the officer. Ms. Bradley states that she has been feeling this way for the…
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