By C1 Staff
PLATTSBURGH — A woman who never intended to stay in the chosen career path of correctional nurse says she now loves her job, 29 years later.
“I feel safer working in the prison than I did in the ER,” Amy Tousignant told the Press Republican during a presentation at SUNY Plattsburgh. “I know who’s coming in, I know what they are not carrying, as opposed with the ER, where God knows who’s packing and what they are carrying.”
Starting her career as a registered nurse in the ICU of CVPH Medical Center, she switched to working in prisons when she was offered more money.
“No-brainer at the time, I said, ‘Well, I’ll go for a year, then I’ll get out.’
“Now I’m in year 29, and I love it.”
Tousignant said the inmates are very respectful to the medical staff taking care of them.
However, she does acknowledge that there are many differences between working in a hospital and working in a prison. One example was the layout of rooms, where one door will only open from the outside, preventing an inmate from barricading himself inside.
She recounted stories of inmates covering themselves in feces to avoid being touched, while others starved themselves and required medical intervention.
For nursing staff, the biggest problems are inmates who come in with drug problems.
Synthetic drugs can’t be detected with testing, making it harder for staff to know who’s using and who’s distributing.
Tousignant also explained the hierarchy inside prisons – that medical was secondary to security.
If an inmate tried to hang himself, medical could be ready to help but cannot enter the cell until a security team makes a sweep and gives them the OK.
She said the relationship between the medical staff and correctional officers is very good.
“They need us, and we need them. There is a mutual respect,” she said. “They have a lot of faith in us.”