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Findings and Recommendations 6 findings
F1
The nursing and executive staffs of Correctional Medical Services interviewed are highly professional, competent and dedicated to providing a high level of medical service to the inmates housed in Orange County jail facilities.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The nursing and executive staffs of Correctional Medical Services continue to provide professional, competent and dedicated quality medical service to the inmates housed in Orange County Jail Facilities.
F2
Staffing levels for Correctional Medical Services are inadequate, particularly at Senior Nurse levels, leading to low morale and complaints about lack of communication.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Background checks for new nursing employees are over-burdensome and take too long to complete, resulting in fewer applicants and a high drop-out rate for those who have applied.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Health Care and Orange County Sheriff representatives develop an expedited and streamlined process for checking backgrounds for nursing applicants.
F4
Current outreach programs to recruit nurses focus primarily on local schools and fail to reach out to all nursing schools in Southern California; programs for student interns are inadequate and could be expanded to provide a deeper pool for future recruits.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
On-going training for nursing staff is insufficient; few hands-on drills or mock emergency scenarios are presently offered.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Additional regularly scheduled and mandated training programs be developed for all nursing staff with an emphasis on unannounced mock drills.
F6
Some computer programs are outdated or non-existent and new programs and training for nurses are needed.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Up to date computer programs be purchased and training provided to allow better patient charting and communication between nurses and supervisors
Conclusions 1
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CL1The Grand Jury finds that while inmates at Orange County jail facilities are receiving excellent professional nursing care there is a major morale problem amongst all levels of non-administrative levels of nursing because of lack of staffing, insufficient numbers of senior nurses, and lack of responsive communication from direct supervisors. The nurses working within Correctional Medical Services are dedicated and most are highly motivated, but staffing at jail facilities, particularly at the supervisory level, is insufficient. A major contributing factor to inadequate staffing is an over-burdensome system of background checking for nurse employees.
Commendations 1
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CM1Without exception, every nurse-employee interviewed in this investigation was professional, helpful, and above all, dedicated to providing the finest nursing care to inmates housed within the Orange County jail facilities. Executive management staff was likewise cooperative, caring, professional and devoted to providing the highest level of nursing care possible, given their present budgetary restraints and the system as it is presently organized. All photos in this report were taken with the permission and supervision of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department. The Grand Jury would like to acknowledge and thank Jerry Manson, Public Information Office, Sheriff-Coroner Department for the photography used in this report. 15
Agency Responses 3
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.