ST. LOUIS -- To elevate awareness of the significance of correctional nursing practice, the Correctional Medical Services (CMS) Nursing Leadership Council recently honored three practitioners for their exemplary nursing practice as a part of National Nurses Recognition Week. CMS contracts with physicians and employs healthcare professionals who provide care to approximately 230,000 inmates in nearly 290 correctional facilities in 24 states.
“From all over the country, essays poured in from nurses, physicians, and other co-workers describing why the nurses with whom they worked deserved to be honored,” said Lorry Schoenly, clinical education manager for Correctional Medical Services. “The nurses who won this year exemplify extraordinary care in a very challenging environment. We salute them for their commitment, expertise, and compassion.”
The winners of this year’s council awards all showed how nursing is more than a job to them. They view their profession as an opportunity for dedicated people from all walks of life to help others in need – both mentally and physically. Correctional nurses practice within the unique and distinct environment of the criminal justice system caring for a largely disadvantaged patient community. Inmate patients often come from socio-economic groups at high risk for poor health. Frequently, inmate patients have not had access to regular healthcare services or proper treatment for medical conditions prior to their incarceration. Those factors make the specialty nursing practice of correctional healthcare extremely valuable and rewarding.
The following are the real-life stories of the three nurses honored by the CMS Nursing Leadership Council who genuinely reflected this year’s National Nurses Week theme of "Nursing: A Profession and a Passion."
Rebecca Moore, RN, Nurse Manager at Lakin Correctional Center in West Virginia
In July 2006, Rebecca Moore found herself taking care of a terminally ill patient whose efforts to seek early medical parole were denied. In this exceedingly difficult situation, Moore found a way to make key arrangements and preserve the dignity and privacy of, not only the patient, but the patient’s family, the medical staff, and other inmate patients. Going beyond basic treatment, Moore scheduled psychology visits, supplied appropriate pain management interventions, and educated the nurses and correctional staff at the hospice care unit about the process of dying. While ensuring the privacy of the patient, Moore initiated volunteer sitters to stay with the patient to provide comfort. Moore also took this opportunity to guide CMS management and the Department of Corrections (DOC) staff through the important issues she was confronting including legalities, appropriate care, and privacy issues. She kept all providers and senior custody staff informed throughout the decision-making process, and organized responsibilities for aftercare arrangements. After the passing of her patient, Moore arranged psychology services to be offered to both the volunteer sitters and other staff. Through Moore’s exceptional nursing care, and open lines of communications with the DOC, she set the standard for end-of-life care at Lakin Correctional Center.
Connie B. Coots, RN, Western Missouri Correctional Center in Missouri
Connie B. Coots, RN, is known around work as “Buzz” for her extensive nursing knowledge – trauma/emergency room, intensive care and operating room – and her ability to buzz around to each patient and explain their illnesses to them on a comprehensible level, as well as always teaching her co-workers new skills. One of the most valuable skills that Coots brings to the center is her ability to take the knowledge she has regarding all aspects of patient care, and apply it to real-life situations. On more than one occasion, Coots has noticed subtle differences in patient assessments that have led to positive outcomes in patient health. This past summer, Coots took an emergency call without knowing the situation. Once there, she acted fast, assessing the situation and getting the inmate proper medical attention. Another time, Coots responded to an “officer down” call, helping custody staff care for and transport the officer out of a dangerous situation. Her high level of competence in every aspect of nursing practice has earned her the respect of all her colleagues, and her dedication and leadership skills have made her an integral part of the WesternMissouriCorrectionalCenter.
Robin Bartholomew, Director of Nursing, GalvestonCountyJail
Her colleagues say that Bartholomew has a genuine passion for what she does, and it shows every day. A prime example of her work came in the form of a patient incarcerated in November 2004. In December, this patient was diagnosed with a neck mass and non-small cell lung cancer. Although this patient had a personality that was difficult to deal with at times, Bartholomew handled him with compassion, and gave him exceptional nursing care. She arranged all of his treatments plans, and researched her patient’s disease on her own time so that she could help implement a plan to make the patient feel stronger and healthier. Furthermore, Bartholomew took her own free time to ensure that her patient had a clean area in which to stay, helped get her patient the correct care he needed, and even came to the jail on her own time to make sure that everything was being done exactly as the doctors had ordered. When the patient was released from jail, he walked out a healthy and grateful man. Bartholomew had earned his respect, and the staff under her direction saw her passion for nursing.
National Nurses Recognition Week is celebrated annually from May 6 (also known as National Nurses Day) through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
Source: CMS
