May 8, 2020

On May 7, 2020, Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid and her command staff were joined by Sheriff’s Office nursing staff in the Adult Detention Center (ADC) for a celebration of National Nurses Month.

“When most people think about the work we do at the ADC, nursing is not the first thing that comes to mind,” said Kincaid. “But we are grateful for our amazing nurses, especially for the courage you have demonstrated during this ever evolving pandemic. You have truly made a difference, and we thank you for your continued service.

The Sheriff’s Office medical team includes more than 40 nurses who provide health care around the clock to the inmate population. This includes Sheriff’s Office staff and behavioral health nurses from the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board. In addition to the initial health screening at booking, nurses provide inmates with health visits, chronic care education, medication, and preventative care, and work collaboratively with other providers and sworn staff. The work of correctional nurses is complex and vital to the Adult Detention Center.

In her salute to the nursing staff, Kincaid read from a poem written by registered nurse, archivist and celebrated author, Melodie Chenevert, on being a nurse. “You will carry immense responsibility and very little authority. You will step into people’s lives and you will make a difference. You will cry a lot. You will laugh a lot. You will know what it is to be human and to be humane.”

The Sheriff’s Office has been accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care since 1981 for its operation of the ADC. The reaccreditation process takes place every three years to ensure that the agency maintains compliance with the standards.

Kincaid emphasizes that the accreditation process is voluntary. “We are committed to providing nationally recognized standards of health care delivery in our facility, which is why we choose to participate in the rigorous and challenging auditing process.”