I am done with correctional nursing!

wyogypsy, RN · Jul 18, 2013

If you think any area of nursing is not filled with the problems you face in corrections then you are fooling yourself. You have had issues from at least 3 jobs according to your post. You need to look in the mirror. I am not saying the places you worked didn't have their problems, but don't they still have people employed that worked there a lot longer than you? That is because they learned how to get along in the environment in which they work; whether it be corrections, SNF, acute hospital, whatever. You are going to need to learn to do this as well. It is not always 'somebody else's' fault.

DavidDudley · Jul 18, 2013

My mom who worked at Chino state prison for 17 years tells me to this day how miserable the nurses are there and how the supervisors are always making their lives hell. Sure you have staff that hang in there but that is because they want the state retirement. I agree with you that every job will have it's problems, but this is a matter of finding the jobs that have lesser amount of evils. Saying that all jobs have problems is no excuse to stay at a job and be miserable. I've worked home health per diem for 2 years and have had no significant issues. I've worked ER for 4 months with no issues. Frankly, were just way too busy actually doing patient care to have time for gossip and trying to stab other staff in the back.

At the sub-acute snf the turnover rate was sky high. There was only 1 nurse who's been there long term. Shortly prior to me getting there, 5 nurses quit, while I was there, 2 got fired and 3 quit. Shortly after I left they lost even more staff.

Because I'm per diem at juvenile hall, most of the nurses are out to stab me in the back since I was hired to prevent overtime. Which affirms my original point, nurses who have nothing better to do will find anyone they can to make their life a living hell because of their jealousy and rage towards someone else who might be making more than them.

SleeepyRN · Jul 18, 2013

I have no doubt that what you are saying is true. That being said, I have to agree with wyogypsy. The post just seems to be missing some accountability on your part. It could simply be the way it was written, but Im hearing a lack of coping skills. I myself allowed others to bully me out of my first nursing job, which was a big mistake on my part. I'm finding it very very hard to get another bedside job right now. And it's been 8 months. Im starting at a telephonic position next week, and I know I will encounter same personality types that I will have to learn to cope with. I don't know your whole story, I'm just giving it to you straight that the post comes off as if you played zero part in any of your job outcomes. Just try to to some reflection and think ahead of time, "how will I handle these stressors if they come up again in future jobs?"

DavidDudley · Jul 18, 2013

Hi SleeepyRN,

I wouldn't say that I lack the ability to cope with the stress on the job, but when things have gotten bad to the point where I am close to being fired then at that point it is good idea to quit, and that is the point where I am at right now with my current job at juvenile hall. Better to quit than to get fired. And of course, I never quit a job unless I'm working another job as back up and/or have another firm job offer. In my case, I have both, fortunately.

Like I was telling the previous poster, I agree that every job has issues and stressors, but that fact shouldn't keep you at a job utterly miserable. The key is to find the right job for you with the appropriate stressors that you can deal with. There are plenty of days in the ER where my stress levels are through the roof, but its stress related to patient care, not stress of gossip, drama, and hate from other nurses. I don't mind the stress of patient care, it's why I became a nurse, to essentially render a useful service to humanity and save lives.

The main problem with correctional nurses is that they have way too much time on their hands and all that idle time creates major issues in their work environment. Granted, some correctional facilities do have their nurses busting their butt, but those correctional facilities are a dime in a dozen. I have worked at a total of 3 correctional facilities and its practically the same: too much idle time and too much employee issues beyond any healthy level.

When the issues and drama of staff becomes the focus of a job environment and not patient care itself then it essentially nullifies the reason as to why we even became nurses in the first place.

SleeepyRN · Jul 20, 2013

Hi SleeepyRN,I wouldn't say that I lack the ability to cope with the stress on the job, but when things have gotten bad to the point where I am close to being fired then at that point it is good idea to quit, and that is the point where I am at right now with my current job at juvenile hall. Better to quit than to get fired. And of course, I never quit a job unless I'm working another job as back up and/or have another firm job offer. In my case, I have both, fortunately.Like I was telling the previous poster, I agree that every job has issues and stressors, but that fact shouldn't keep you at a job utterly miserable. The key is to find the right job for you with the appropriate stressors that you can deal with. There are plenty of days in the ER where my stress levels are through the roof, but its stress related to patient care, not stress of gossip, drama, and hate from other nurses. I don't mind the stress of patient care, it's why I became a nurse, to essentially render a useful service to humanity and save lives. The main problem with correctional nurses is that they have way too much time on their hands and all that idle time creates major issues in their work environment. Granted, some correctional facilities do have their nurses busting their butt, but those correctional facilities are a dime in a dozen. I have worked at a total of 3 correctional facilities and its practically the same: too much idle time and too much employee issues beyond any healthy level. When the issues and drama of staff becomes the focus of a job environment and not patient care itself then it essentially nullifies the reason as to why we even became nurses in the first place.

I myself quit my first job because the misery of the bullying was not worth it. I definitely get that. My second job, I wont even bother to explain, suffice it to say, I KNEW I was going to get fired, with only a few days into the job at that, so I quit. Like you said, better to resign than be fired. My first experience was down right bullying. It was to the point where the oncoming nurses practically refused to hear report from me. Endangering residents. Same with offgoing nurses. I had to PRY a report out of them. This began happening after a vicious rumor was spread about me, saying that I thought I was better than LPNs and CNAs. I was a brand new nurse, had complete low self esteem, and was in awe of what I saw the LPNs and CNAs do. So what they were saying couldn't be further from the truth. I was ganged up on by 3 CNAs and 4 nurses one night when I was leaving, telling me it doesn't matter what any ones title is, that a nurse can learn from a CNA and vice versa. I myself have ALWAYS thought and said this. I was a CNA for 5 years before becoming a nurse. But they wouldn't listen to me. I broke down crying front of them. BIG mistake. The ADON noticed a change from my usual upbeat, always smiling, attitude, and asked me what's wrong. I told her what had been going on. Little did I know she herself was an LPN and nothing came of the situation. I resigned saying it affected the trust relationship a nurse needs to have with his/her residents because the gossip was public to the point of the residents being able to hear. While that was a big part, truth was, I could not tolerate the bullying. The entire staff thought that I thought I was better than them. I couldn't escape the bullying. I had always treated them with respect and gratitude for their help. I almost want to cry now reliving it. I should write an article on here about my whole experience with bullying and how it can literally make someone feel completely worthless, and in my case, suicidal.

DavidDudley · Jul 21, 2013

My experience at my old sub-acute SNF was a little similar to yours, though not quite as bad. When I initially started there, I was fresh out of school and didn't know much. Most of the LVN's there were of the opinion that most RN's had that superior mentality over LVN's and CNA's. Not only did they treat me like an outcast but anytime I was in a tight spot and needed help or advice, they would refuse to help me.

But as time passed, they slowly began to see that I wasn't there to work over them, but to work with them and for them. Eventually, the staff became my family. For me, the problem that drove me to quit wasn't the staff, but the overwhelming and unreasonable workload and stress. Granted, you had the gossiping and backbiting of course, but nowhere near as bad as what typically occurs in the correctional type setting. One thing that I noticed was that the more I was selfless and went out of my way to help the other staff, the less issues I had with them. If I had to choose between working in corrections or working in a SNF, I choose a SNF.

DavidDudley · Jul 21, 2013

So I want to give a brief update on what happened this last friday regarding my job at juvenile hall. I've been anticipating for a bit that they were going to fire me soon so I have been applying for a good handful of home health agencies. One big agency called me and put me through 4 interviews, the final one being on friday with the DON and assistant DON.

After I spoke to the DON he hired me on the spot (thank goodness for the 2 years of home health experience that I have under my belt already), after which I left there and started heading to juvenile hall for my pm shift. I went ahead and typed and printed out a memo of my 2 week notice to resign. Shortly after I gave it to my supervisors, they came to me and informed me that it was a good thing that I gave them the resignation because management was already going to fire me. They then went on to say that with that being said, they can accept the resignation only if I quit immediately. So I resigned immediately and was walked off the facility.

Yes I was depressed afterwards because I have to leave all the people I've worked with for 10 months and all the relationships that I have built. It was hard. I even cried when I was let go from my previous correctional job. But, I was more miserable working there than I was happy so I know that this decision was the best. For me, everytime one door closes and another opens, the new door leads to greener grass. Nightmares don't always last forever, sometimes you wake up and their gone. And for me, I can now breath a sigh of relief that this particular nightmare has finally faded away. 5 years of correctional nursing is enough.

AllyssaMarie · Jul 22, 2013

I currently work in corrections at a county jail and I have to say that I love it. You talked about them "using you for suicide watch." I can tell you that where I work, we do no such thing. We act as nurses and do the things nurses would. I think it all depends on what facility you are at and with what company. Most prisons/jails contract out with medical companies. I do not work for the state or county. I am currently working as in LPN here and I truly enjoy it, although my dream job is to be an nurse in a NICU.

I have heard that it is hard to find a job at a hospital with only corrections experience. I havent had that problem yet, as I am still working at the jail until I finsih my RN and fins another job.

Corrections nursing does have really good pay though. And as far as the drama goes, you will get that everywhere, sadly to say.

Im glad you are finally happy in the ER now though!!