Common Correctional Nursing Interview Questions - Page 5

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  1. Sep 28, '10 by
    this is really nice, thank you all for your contributions!! I have an interview with on of the CA prison health care facilities, I pray that I am able to use these informations (at least the ideas) to respond to questions. Pls is the interview oral or written?
  2. Sep 28, '10 by
    Good luck! Hope you get called. My interview at a correctional facility here in wisconsin is tomorrow. I hope I can sleep!! I have been hanging around here for weeks, reading, trying to prepare for the interview. This is a very supportive forum.
    Thanks to all for posting to it.

    Barb in WI
  3. Sep 28, '10 by
    When can you start?

    No, really, when can you start?

    I've been in my corrections job for YEARS now so I can't offer specific advice. I'd be clear on maintaining boundaries, being firm/fair/consistent, resisting manipulative behavior. Prison dispensaries (at least this prison's dispensaries) are like doctor's offices or emergency departments -- you have to be able to ascertain who is really ill, who is manipulating you, and who you need to worry about and possibly resuscitate. Prisons are violent places and you need to know basic trauma care and stabilization.

    Here I can go several consecutive shifts without anything extraordinary happening -- come in the next day and have someone exsanguinate on the tier. Or die in the yard. Or have his throat cut and die on the way to medical. Or get stomped by his cell buddy and have brain matter all over the gurney. Or hang himself.
    These are all things that have happened on my shifts just in the past couple of months. I LOVE my job but prison/corrections nursing isn't for the faint of heart.
  4. Nov 16, '10 by
    Quote from dchaugen
    The following questions are included in our oral examination for Registered Nurses:
    1. Describe your background in nursing and how this will compliment the duties for a Correctional Health Nurse.
    2. You will be making decisions about whether an inmate seen by you may need to see an MD. What are some factors you would consider in your decision?
    3. What are some key principles of infection control?
    4. An inmate/resident presents with complaints of pain in his left ear. Discuss your assessment process.
    5. Manipulative behavior is very common among the inmate population. what are some nursing skills that are helpful in dealing with this behavior?6. Describe your attributes and experiences that would enhance your ability to work with a diverse population.
    7. Practicing nursing in a correctional facility requires specialized skills, knowledge and work behaviors. Describe what you think they are.

    Hope you find this helpful!


    THank you sooo much! Even though it is almost a year later....I have an interview tomorrow and this was very helpful!!
  5. Nov 17, '10 by
    I found all of the replies so helpful I wanted to share the interview questions I was recently asked. They asked me to tell them about myself, why wanted to work for the prison & if I was willing to work mandatory OT. If I knew standard (Universal precautions), the signs & symptoms of TB & what would I do if I found an inmate down. Scenario ?'s like if there was an inmate with over 200 blood sugar & no coverage, hypertensive inmate c/o HA & ESRD w/sepsis.
  6. Nov 29, '10 by
    Wow! Thanks so much for all of the information you've all contributed! I am a recent grad, and applied YESTERDAY for a position at a county jail. They called me this morning, and my interview is tomorrow! I've been applying just about everywhere since obtaining my license, and this was my VERY FIRST call back. Super excited.. super nervous!
    I'm glad I checked out this thread.. it really gave me a good idea of what I can expect. Thanks again, and I will hopefully know something good soon!
  7. Nov 29, '10 by
    Quote from mamabear71
    Wow! Thanks so much for all of the information you've all contributed! I am a recent grad, and applied YESTERDAY for a position at a county jail. They called me this morning, and my interview is tomorrow! I've been applying just about everywhere since obtaining my license, and this was my VERY FIRST call back. Super excited.. super nervous!
    I'm glad I checked out this thread.. it really gave me a good idea of what I can expect. Thanks again, and I will hopefully know something good soon!
    Wow!! Congrats! What state are you in? That was fast. I applied in Los Angeles 2 months ago and received my letter last week that I am in tier I for open positions, but no calls yet. Wish it was that fast for me!
  8. Nov 30, '10 by
    I'm in Florida. I've had my license for two months and have had zero luck finding anything in my area. This position is actually about a half hour away, but if they offer it to me, I'll take it! It's just an interview, so I'm trying not to get my hopes up. Thanks for wishing me luck!
    Good luck to you!! I'm sure you'll hear something soon.
  9. Dec 3, '10 by
    hi i just interviewed for ca state and these post replies were exactly what one needs to know. sorry cant be more specific because i was told not to repeat questions.
    Faeriewand likes this.
  10. Dec 8, '10 by
    I finally got a call back on Monday.. I GOT THE JOB! I start Friday, and although it's only every other weekend.. very part-time, I'm thrilled! This is exactly the kind of nursing that I want to do. The more I talk to my former classmates who are getting hired on at LTC facilities, they are overwhelmed, overworked, and terrified that they'll lose their license. No thanks.
    Good lucks to everyone going on interviews.. don't give up!
    sunkissed75, RosesRN, and Faeriewand like this.