JAILHOUSE TOO: A Tribute to My Colleagues

In this second book of the set, the stories focus on the people who stand shoulder to shoulder inside these walls: doctors, nurses, deputies, mental health professionals, and the support staff who hold the system together. Those whose quiet competence and can-do attitude made the impossible feel manageable-and yes, about a few whose presence made every shift harder. This is an honest telling. A human one. I also write about something close to my heart: the Oakwood feral cat program. Even in a place built of concrete and steel, compassion finds its way in. Caring for those animals reminded me-again and again-that tenderness can survive anywhere, even behind razor wire. These books describe "real" nursing, as many incarcerated patients need health teaching, self-care skills, and chronic disease management. These pages shine a light on deeply human connections between inmates, nurses, doctors, mental health professionals, deputies, chaplains, and administrators. Yes, there are crises-but often there are moments of connection. Unexpected laughter. A hand on a shoulder. A drawing slipped through a food slot. A deputy standing watch, so that care can happen safely. The people I admire most in the corrections setting are those who make a significant positive impact every day. Book 2 stories focus on caregivers, deputies, and support staff who hold the system together. Those with a competent can-do attitude, and a few whose presence made every shift harder. The public only hears about fights, escapes, riots, deaths, and failures. What they don't hear is that behind those walls are staff who show up every day, balancing toughness with humanity, and sometimes offering an inmate the first scrap of dignity they've had in years. I wanted to make sure someone told that side. This book is unique. It is not a "how-to" book on correctional nursing. These are my personal thoughts, emotions, and experiences, not "someone told me about" stories. There are books about nursing in hospitals... but very few about the human side of compassionate care in ways the public never sees.