To assist nurses, employers and patients, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has developed a Scope of Practice Decision-Making Framework to be used when determining whether a particular nursing activity is within the nurse’s scope of practice. It is very straightforward. Most states have implemented/recommended this decision-making algorithm, and I encourage all nurses to use it in…
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Ms. Sloan: Heart Palpitations
Ms. Sloan is a 32 year old female incarcerated in the state prison system for the past 2 years. She has no chronic medical conditions. About a month ago she complained to her unit officer that her heart felt like it was “racing.” The medical clinic was called and the nurse instructed the officer to send her to the unit for evaluation. Upon arrival,…
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Ms. Profitt: Health Education for Hypertension
This is an educational curriculum for the patient with Hypertension. It may be given in one encounter, but would be better with multiple sessions so that patient comprehension can be monitored, and topics can be reinforced. The content in this post is based upon The Correctional Nurse Educator class entitled Chronic Care Patient Education: Hypertension in Corrections. Today Ms. Profitt,…
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Mr. Howard: Foot Pain
Today scheduled on your Nursing Sick Call list is a 23 year old patient who submitted a slip last night for right foot pain. On the slip, he stated that he noticed his foot hurting that day and doesn’t know why it is hurting. Your review of his health record in preparation for the Nursing Sick Call indicates that he…
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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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