Sterile, schmerile
The infirmary of Arthur Kill Correctional Facility is, according to the laws of the State of New York, supposed to be fully equipped and properly staffed in order to care for the medium-security prisoners housed on the Staten Island prison. So many cases of antibiotics. A certain number of blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, tongue depressors, syringes ... everything the modern penal institution needs.
Only, of course, things work out better on paper than they do in real life.
Esperanza Sanchez, R.N., is overworked and underpaid, but she does her best. She's gotten used to it all. She can handle a 300-lb convict who doesn't realize nursing school teaches even little bitty Hispanic women about pressure points. She's learned to deal with the fact that supplies keep going somewhere other than where they're supposed to be. She's learned how to cope when the hot water isn't hot, the level of rubbing alcohol keeps dropping even in the hidden bottles, and how to keep the sharps far away from Malcolm Ravenel.
But she's never gotten used to the smell here, or the rats, or the flies.
Once again, she opens a drawer in her desk and ponders her resignation letter. As always, the voice of her priest comes to her:
Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and fed thee; thirsty, and gave thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee? Or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee? And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.
Only, of course, things work out better on paper than they do in real life.
Esperanza Sanchez, R.N., is overworked and underpaid, but she does her best. She's gotten used to it all. She can handle a 300-lb convict who doesn't realize nursing school teaches even little bitty Hispanic women about pressure points. She's learned to deal with the fact that supplies keep going somewhere other than where they're supposed to be. She's learned how to cope when the hot water isn't hot, the level of rubbing alcohol keeps dropping even in the hidden bottles, and how to keep the sharps far away from Malcolm Ravenel.
But she's never gotten used to the smell here, or the rats, or the flies.
Once again, she opens a drawer in her desk and ponders her resignation letter. As always, the voice of her priest comes to her:
Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and fed thee; thirsty, and gave thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee? Or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee? And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.