C.: A-A-A- AND we’re back with the final segment of Cal.E.’s Corner. We have as our guest today, nurse and author d.c. scot. d.c. is a BIG New York Yankees fan and an ardent supporter of major league baseball commissioner Rob “The” Man,Fred. (hehe)
d.c., I still feel as if you did not get through with what you were trying to say in the last two segments. Since I must work tonight, I am going to take a nap before I get ready for work, so I want to end this segment strongly. d.c, would you care to expound further on your comments during the last two sessions? d.c.? d.c.! D.C.!!!
d.: Oh, sorry, Cal.E. I was just reading the email my doctor finally sent me.
C.: What could your doctor possibly be saying in that email that is more interesting than having a conversation with the host of THE most fascinating blog on Facebook (or on any other social media)?
d.: Doc. Said, “Yes, no, it depends, maybe, in some situations, but not all situations, definitely, and it depends on you.” Doc answered ALL my questions!
C.: THAT is good to hear (I think). Anyway, do you want to say more about what we were talking about yesterday?
d.: What was that?
C.: I am glad you have a computer at work to help you remember things at work. We were talking about inmates in The Human Kennel not wanting to take expensive, life-saving medicine, even though the medicine is free!
d.: Actually, that is not exactly true. The medicine IS free to the inmates, but the pharmaceutical companies still charge the state for the meds (some as much as a grand a pill!). That is financed by the taxpayers’ money that the state collects. Texas is one of the few solvent states in the U.S., even though Texans do not pay a state income tax. That is because the state charges high sales taxes on non-essential edible goods, as well as a luxury tax on things like rental cars, the purchase of luxury vehicles, and hotel rooms. That way, the people who can afford to pay more taxes are the ones who DO pay more taxes. That sounds like the theory our government is trying to impose nationwide.
Moving on, as I indicated yesterday, many of the inmates do not want to take their medications at the times they are scheduled to take them. We nurses suggest that the providers never make a prescription a PRN one for the inmates, because some interpret that to mean that they may take those medications whenever they feel they need it. “Patient may refuse” a scheduled drug is a better term to use with someone who was formerly addicted to narcotics or illegal drugs, i.e. put the inmate on a schedule for pain relievers. If the inmate feels the drug is not necessary at the scheduled time, he may refuse it.
However, drugs that should NOT be refused are blood pressure medications, psych meds, and anti-seizure meds, as well as chemotherapy drugs. Those need to be taken around the same time each day. Inmates often want to sleep in when they are not scheduled to work on certain days. Sometimes, that means that they miss the times the pill window is open to administer those drugs. Many think that they should be able to walk in when they decide to wake up and take their meds. They do not understand that things do not work that way in the free world. If I decide to go to my drug store after the pharmacy closes, I will not get my medications until the next day, no matter how badly I need them. Since I work at a prerelease facility, we nurses think it is important to impart this type of wisdom to the inmates.
Besides, if each inmate decided for himself when to take his meds or to see a nurse or a provider, the whole facility would be chaotic (even more than it is on a regular basis). My facility has around 300 inmates housed in it, who get free medical care, food, and housing at Texas’s taxpayers’ expense. All they must do is follow some very simple guidelines, but some do not even want to do that! (smh) I doubt these individuals will do well when they are released into the free world. I often tell an inmate on the day of his release that he is graduating from kindergarten to begin graduate school. That is how much difference there is between being in The Human Kennel and being released into the free world, where one must make his or her own decisions.
C.: WOW, d.c.! It sounds like you may not be too happy with your present work situation. Why don’t you ask for a transfer and come work with me?!
d.: I don’t think so, Cal.E.
C.: Why not?
d.: Because Cal.E., I worked ten years to come to a facility where there are few (if any) real emergencies on a regular basis. My job, as a rule, is fairly easy. Besides, your facility is where they keep the REAL animals! (hehe).
C.: (Heavy sigh).
Cal.E. Kat
for
Commissioner of MLB
C.: G'night, y'all.
Comments