Correctional Nursing-Last Stop For Nurses who can't make it anywhere else

bandaid911 · Feb 24, 2003

My experiences as well has been very vast. I have worked in many different settings including dialysis and find correctional nursing a wonderful specialty. I love what i do and do find a small handful of nurses that would never be able to work anywhere else because of their horrible attitudes and mean demeanor. however they are still very competent and i would trust them with my life. In my experiences before corrections i have met nurses who cant calculate drip rates, dont know there drugs and cant even start an iv. there are many incompete nurses in every specialty.

Gator,SN · Feb 24, 2003

One of the first things I noticed hanging on the wall of the nurses station in the max security prison I accepted a postion in, was an ad to join the correctional nurses association to counteract the perception that correctional nurses were "less than perfect nurses".

Do you really think that joining this organization will help when you yourself believe the same about others in your profession?? I can just imagine what the seminars are like. :rolleyes:

Gator

itsme · Mar 24, 2003

calliotter3, LTC the bottom of the pile? Who ever thinks that must be going to take care of grampa when he is end stage alzheimers and needs 24/7 care. I think that correctional nurses have guts just to go into a facility and hear those locks behind them, knowing they are truly stuck there until shift change. It takes a special person to take care of murderers, baby rapers, and your general criminal nut cases. I am not brave enough! Just because you run into a "bad" nurse in some facility does NOT mean every nurse is "bad" that works in that facility or that field of nursing. Who are these bashers????

Reblflowrs · Apr 18, 2003

I am an LPN and have worked in several areas, including LTC, Cardiac offices, telemetry, step down units, med-sug and post-op. I took a job as a correctional nurse after moving to Va. due to the fact the pay was 5k more to start a year here than in the cardiac office I was working in. At first I was a little apprehensive about it, but after being here 2 years I find it is no different than working with any other patient. I keep my assessment skills honed and work with the MD on a close basis. I have kept my clinical skills intact with IV treatments and venipuncture as we have an 8 bed infirmary. True, you see the worst of patients at times, and some of them are just bad to the bone. Then there are just people who made mistakes. The health problems are the same, and I try very hard not to judge any of them. I see some idiots working in this field, but I have seen those in all areas. I applaud any nurse doing a good job, no matter where it is. I take no offense at remarks other nurses make about us, I just figure they are one of those who like to make themselves look good by talking down others.

debbyed · Apr 18, 2003

Lately I've been dropping by threads that I don't normally visit, actually looking for good things. You guys have impressed the heck out of me. If we could all support and stand-up for each other they way you all have life would be so much better. I've been an ER nurse for > 20 years and recently was offered chance to do some PRN corrections work. I hadn't made up my mind yet but you guys have made it sound much more appealing. I may just have to chance it. Any tips???

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Apr 24, 2003

A few.

1. Don't believe everything you are told by an inmate about physical symptoms. Many will exaggerate their symptoms, or fabricate them entirely, just to get out of their cells or to get some extra attention. These guys aren't doing time for being honest and on-the-level. Your assessment skills will be put to maximum use sorting out the game-players from the legitimate issues.

2. Unlearn much of what you have learned about the delivery of care. In this environment, the patient is expected to take a degree of responsibility. Run and fetch for them, as we are conditioned to do in hospitals, and they will have you tied in knots. Excessive attention marks you as a person easy to manipulate.

3. Don't "bend the rules". While you don't have to be rigid and inflexible, being firm pays large dividends. You won't become compromised profesionally, and in their own convoluted way, inmates will respect you for it.

4. Lighten the atmosphere with humor in appropriate spots. I have always used humor in my practice, and the environment these guys live in is serious enough on its own. I have defused a number of potentially tense situations with proper use of humor.

5. Don't take everything inmates tell you about conflicts with staff literally. Inmates often try to cultivate a sympathetic ear by telling a drawn-out story about how they have been wronged or brutalized by a particular staff member. They are counting on your caring instincts, and your obligation as a patient advocate, to pull you to their side. This is how a lot of compromising situations start. Remember that they are inmates, and many are master manipulators. They are usually not telling the entire truth about such matters. Prison is a violent and serious environment, and conflicts must necessarily be dealt with swiftly by security staff. Force is often necessary to prevent harm to life and property.

None of this is meant to scare you. It is a very different specialty from anything else I have done, and it is challenging. I often have to make calls on delivery of treatment based upon a conversation with someone with little or no medical knowledge, and I often have to make decisions without the benefit of a physician's input (although they are available if I need them). I have a lot of latitude in what I do, and hospitals just can't compete.

passing thru · Apr 24, 2003

RE: Post # 3

Tell it like it is , Stargazer !

LOL

debbyed · Apr 24, 2003

Thanks for the tips. As now I work in a busy Balti/Metro ER I am quite familar with #1 and #5; and #2 would be a much needed respite from "Oh nurse will you get us all some coffee, 1 black, 2 with sugar.........oh and something to snack on, and those cute little blue slippers.........". I understand the necessity of #3 & #4. I can't imagine nursing without humor.

Thanks again for the tips.

Mkue · May 27, 2003

Thanks for the tips Orca:)

powmol · May 27, 2003

I have worked for the last 20 years in different areas of nursing. Working in a correctional facility by far was one that needed knowledge and compassion. Nurses that except jobs within this field are up against tremendous stressful out of the ordinary situations. I am unsure how possibly all of these nurses that you are talking about could be so incompetent. Maybe you are just burned out of nursing, is it time for a break???

katscan · May 27, 2003

Yep, powmoll, sounds like burnout to me too...

Nitey_RN · Jun 6, 2003

6 plus years in @ a max---and still enjoy my job---stressful? yep at times--

have to wear many nursing hats? yep always--

Ive worked with many great nurses---and luckily in my case only a few not so great nurses--both behind the wall and in the free world also. So I'm not so different as many of my fellw nurses in that respect. I would encourage anyone to give corrections a try---I'd have never thought ten years ago I would be where I have chosen to be but I like it! I like the diversity and it's fast paced. I've seen many come and go for various reasons, most really like it or really

hate it, and it's a tough job at times.

Have a great day!!!!