New Grad in Correctional Nursing

I would say it is not a good idea. You need to have some experience dealing with different types of patients and situations. You will be going into an environment where you're going to have to deal with everything from OB to stabbings. Spend some time in a hospital to get the experience you'll need.

I can't agree more. corrections is not a good place to start. Its not so much the OB and stabbings as it is the games the cons play. You need to have a well rounded array of experiences to work in a prison. You need everything from energency skills to psych, geriatrics to adolescent experience. These people will try to get anything they can from the medical staff. They are also the masters of faking illness. They have all the time in the world to plan how they will try to fool you. You need time to hone your assessment skills to avoid being conned by the con. Many are drug seekers and they just don't know when to stop. Attitude is another factor......You need to be firm as well as fair.......Best of luck....Give med-surg a go first.

i'm just curious of what made you want to consider starting your career correctional nursing ?

Corrections is a speciality. And as in any speciality, it takes a certain individual to do this type of nursing. I recommend that you start in a hospital in med-surg, and you'll be surprised that your own specialty will manifest itself.

Walter the Nurse

I took a RN position in a prison when I first graduated. Two weeks later I was made charge.

Definately read Games Criminals Play, and How To Profit By Them.

Don't marry an inmate!

Great advice Ion! Don't marry an inmate! I knew 2 RN's and a social worker who met their husbands at their prison jobs. The social worker had to call the police when he got out of prison because he beat on her and she divorced him. The RN's were married to prisoners that had life sentences but I heard that one of the RN's was going to file for divorce because he had other "lady visitors."

I have seen disasters when staff marry inmates and nothing good comes from that. We have a class that the nurses get at the beginning of their career and off and on after on "Boundary Violations" and it is something they all need. I am hoping that it is going to help.

I think all nurses need at least 1 year of clinical experience in a med/surg. before coming to work in corrections. It will hone your skills and make you more confident in your job. These guys are great at faking and they know a lot of symptoms for the diseases so you really need you have your confiedence before working with the worlds best con artists.