Made it through my first week!

[Chaoticdreams33, MSN, RN]

So I made it through my first week (plus a couple days) in corrections. So far I am liking it. I had one day where I questioned my decision, but I think that is normal.

I just did my last day shift yesterday, and now will orient to evenings for two weeks and then nights, until May when I come off orientation and start FT on evening shift. I will try to get days eventually though, but the pay is just so crappy without the diff, I don't know if I could swing it. Even with the diff, it's not so great. I have kept my last job per diem so I can cont to make as much as I was before.

So, I have oriented at two minimum security facilities, one medium security facility, and one "supermax" facility. At each one, things are a little different, but in general they do the same things. There are pyxis machines in all but one facility. I have done sick call and meds, but no diabetics yet. No codes yet, which is what I am most worried about. I have no emergency experience, and it doesn't look like they are going to be giving me any training on it either. I was thinking of taking an EMT course- good idea or bad? Any advice for emergency/first responder skills?

So far, all the inmates have been fairly respectful. I know this isn't always the case, but in my first week, that is what I have seen. I am just trying to keep my ears and eyes open and take in all that I can. Focusing on being resfectful to everyone, and treating the inmates fairly. It is so interesting to see this type of nursing, I think that I will really like it!

I will welcome any advice that you have!

[GoECU]

Congrats on making it through your first week! I will start on this coming Monday. I am excited and nervous! Hope things continue to go well!

[Chaoticdreams33, MSN, RN]

Awesome! I hope that you like it. I really like the JOB, the actual work that you do. The archaic way things are done, and all the interpersonal BS I could do without!

But it's really not a bad nursing job at all.

I did find out some info that is very different than was told to me prior to accepting the position. So I am actually not sure if I will even stay in the position, I may just continue school and get my MSN-NP. But if the pay was decent, I would probably not be thinking of this!

[katkonk, BSN, RN]

OMG...you have PYXIS machines in a facility!!!?? Consider yourself blessed. Where I have worked, every single needle, scissor, sharp, narcotic med, nail clipper, and syringe are hand counted twice a day. In one facility I worked at, every single drawer and every single cabinet had a different padlock on it, requiring a separate key. The key ring must have weighed at least 2 lbs. It sounds like a well-funded and progressive place that you are in.

[Chaoticdreams33, MSN, RN]

So my second week and a half- not so good. I am seeing some HIGHLY questionable nursing practice by some of the nurses, a ton of call outs, I mean someone calls out pretty much every day, and a lot of unhappy nurses and staff, among other things. I don't think I have any desire to work in this type of environment. I have asked for my old job back, and applied for a similar one at a different agency.

I have enrolled in summer classes, and I am going to continue with my original plan to become a Nurse Practitioner.

I see why some people would do this for 20 years, the pension is fantastic. But I really don't think I could handle it. I would be way to miserable and depressed. I need my old job back! Even if it was boring, at least it was happy.

I feel crappy that this didn't work out, but there is just so much about the work environment that I didn't know about. Props to all you corrections nurses!!!

[katkonk, BSN, RN]

Well, sometimes you just don't know until you get to some place. I have stumbled into a couple of situations in my career in which I thought..."OMG...what have I done?" And I promptly got the heck out of there because there were things going on that I REALLY did not want to be a part of. You know what they say about "EXPERIENCE" ????

"EXPERIENCE" IS WHAT ALLOWS YOU TO RECOGNIZE A MISTAKE WHEN YOU MAKE IT AGAIN..

Good luck in your future endeavors. And yes, I have seen very bizarre and very bad nursing practices in my time in corrections. Some really great nurses too, but some very, very scary ones there.

[Chaoticdreams33, MSN, RN]

Katkonk- thank you so much for your kind words! Your post made me feel so much better.

I have met a few really awesome nurses in corrections, but it seems like they just get the crap because they actually work hard and do the right thing. The lazy and incompetent nurses just get to continue to do whatever and get the same benefits. I don't know how the good nurses can tolerate it!

But thank you, I am very grateful for your post, all my experiences have made me grow as a person and as a nurse!