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Correctional Nursing: Transgender Inmates
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Lorry Schoenly, PhD, RN, CCHP-RN
Lorry Schoenly is a doctorally prepared registered nurse with over 25 years of experience currently specializing in the field of correctional nursing. Lorry has written and edited a variety of nursing publications including more than two dozen articles, book chapters and nursing continuing education products. She specializes in clinically oriented content for electronic, internet, and traditional print mediums.
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Lorry Schoenly | Correctional Nurse
Change Management
What if the person is in the midst of hormonal therapy or SRS? What responsibilities are there for maintaining or continuing escalation of therapy? Policies regarding transgender treatment differ among state and county systems. Investigate the policy at your facility before you need to use it. Discuss the situation with your manager and medical director.
In a recent survey of correction system policies about transgender treatment, the majority of responding facilities had policies for the continuation of hormonal therapy, at least at the current level. Abrupt discontinuation of hormonal therapy can lead to physical and psychological side effects and should be avoided. Many facilities will use a ‘freeze-frame’ approach which continues the current therapy but does not escalate or advance the gender-change process.
Autocastration – Medical Emergency
Be aware that disturbed individuals may resort to autocastration or autopenectomy to reduce testosterone levels. The elasticity of the testicular arteries allows them to retract into the perineum making it very difficult to staunch the flow. Emergency transport, critical care and blood transfusion may be necessary.
More Resources on Transgender Treatment:
• Transgender Guidelines from NCCHC
• Trans People in Criminal Justice by Justice Institute of BC
• How Should Agencies Manage Transgender Inmates?
afterwop
almost 2 years ago
58 comments
I've never worked in a correctional facility before, only in public hospitals and rehab facilities, my closest contact with the legal system was a collaboration with two Louisiana personal injury attorneys who counseled me on malpractice and on employee's rights. Anyway I figure it must be a very challenging situation to offer medical treatment to transgendered inmates, the kind that must be handled with a lot of professionalism.