Please help me

Specialties Correctional

Published

As I have mentioned before I am hoping to/planning on doing some travel nursing ASAP next year (Feb). Right now it is looking like I will be working in corrections. I know no subtle way of stating this, but I'm wondering if others have found it difficult to have a caring attitude towards some inmates knowing they are rapists, murderers, pedophiles etc? Are/were you able to be a good nurse for the prisoners in spite of your aversion towards their actions of the past (i.e. developed a love the sinner, hate the sin attitude)? Or is this one of the drawbacks of working in corrections that really there is no real solution to; you just have to deal with your feelings PRN?

I understand the basics of correctional nursing are the same as any other field of nursing--you are treating human beings. So when it comes down to doing your job, do you find yourself looking at the inmates as patients, or is it difficult looking past the fact that they committed some sort of heinous crime? I'm just not sure how compassionate I can be in some cases--unless I believe them when they tell me they are innocent. Do nurses even know what crimes the inmates have committed--ignorance in this case would certainly be bliss. Are my concerns unique to me, or is this a common concern for new correctional nurses? I have always been very fascinated by the criminal mind, so I would certainly hate to let my fears get in the way of this opportunity to learn, travel to another part of this great country and make great money. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I do look at times to see what the person is charged with, does this mean I treat them differently ? No I don't. I work at a county jail so we get the full range of patients. As for our psyc nurse she does look at what they are charged with , many times this is what they need to talk to her about. I always know they are my patients but also have to remind myself they are also inmates . I have taken care of murders, rapist , child molesters.... I have only had self doubt about the care I could give on one occasion due to the horrendous crime she is/was accused of. I gave the best care I could and continue to do so.

I think you were only being honest about your feelings and that is always a good thing. Good Luck with whatever you choose to do.

Hi psych rn

I think being a victim of crime can influence how one feels about inmates. I do have a problem at times with my feelings towards child molesters and rapists. I try to act professional towards all inmates. However, since I was sexually molested at age 6 and viciously raped at age 14 I doubt if I will ever become one of those inmate-lover type nurses.

I don't understand how someone can hurt a child and then be released from prison? There was a guy at my last job who was HIV positive who raped little boys and he was released!!!!

This sickens me!!!

I use to live in Calif. and many years ago I visited a prison for drug addicts. They had the most beautiful swimming pool for the inmates and Health spa equipment too!! I was so shocked and angry!! Why couldn't the state use that money to get a nice warm pool for the innocent elderly who have painful joints?

No instead they use the money so these drug addicts who rip off the elderly can live like royalty!!-All at taxpaper's expense of course!

:confused: :o

Originally posted by BarbPick

I do wish you luck psychrn03, I hope they give you a good orientation, and about what the previous poster said, who ever it is, is correct, I know nothing about OB.

Now if ever I mention doing a travel assignment in OB, you can personally come and slap some sense into me--or find someone close to me who is willing.

Originally posted by Blackcat99

Hi psych rn

I think being a victim of crime can influence how one feels about inmates. I do have a problem at times with my feelings towards child molesters and rapists. I try to act professional towards all inmates. However, since I was sexually molested at age 6 and viciously raped at age 14 I doubt if I will ever become one of those inmate-lover type nurses.

I don't understand how someone can hurt a child and then be released from prison? There was a guy at my last job who was HIV positive who raped little boys and he was released!!!!

This sickens me!!!

I use to live in Calif. and many years ago I visited a prison for drug addicts. They had the most beautiful swimming pool for the inmates and Health spa equipment too!! I was so shocked and angry!! Why couldn't the state use that money to get a nice warm pool for the innocent elderly who have painful joints?

No instead they use the money so these drug addicts who rip off the elderly can live like royalty!!-All at taxpaper's expense of course!

:confused: :o

This is the kind of info I was looking for. I knew there were people out there who would have some legitimate issues with certain types of inmates for one reason or another. I can't even imagine being able to be in the same room as a child molestor, for example, if I were an unfortunate victim of child moslestation. Thank you for sharing.

hmmm, never have worked in a prison. Have worked in a jail now for 10 years. It is a very genteel place for the most part although booking and the safety cells as well as lockdown and the psych unit can get loud...and behavioral emergencies do

occur.

As for looking past what an inmate has done...never had a problem with that. I have worked with individuals such as drug addicts and alcoholics for many years now...even before jail so I guess I have the gift of being able to separate the sin from the sinner (and I am not even religious)...

There have been a few times when, after reading about an inmates crime or alleged crime...I think I may have difficulty dealing with that person. When it comes right down to it I am

just as able to be professional, and yes, even pleasant with

them as they usually are with me. Have only been written up

once by an inmate and that is because the deputy got the guy

all worked up (and I was there). The deputy is gone now.

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Originally posted by sonoma_gal

hmmm, never have worked in a prison. Have worked in a jail now for 10 years. .

Is there a difference between the two? I thought "jail" was slang for prison....Prison sounds nicer,somehow..like it is were folks like John Gotti serve out there time...The rest of us would end up in jail....

Jails are for short term violators. Jails rarely have prisoners sentenced to long terms. Most in my facility are there for a few days, months, or years, then leave for a few days months or years and come back again. Jails are also where people come from prison while they are going to court for trial, so we get a little of everything. Most of them are there for drugs, ETOH, or domestic violence. With the females, it's usually drugs, ETOH, or prostitution. Prisons are for longer term sentencing, for more serious violations, although now with the 3 strikes type of mandatory sentencing guidelines there are more people going to prison than ever.

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Originally posted by Crawsu

Jails are for short term violators. Jails rarely have prisoners sentenced to long terms. Most in my facility are there for a few days, months, or years, then leave for a few days months or years and come back again. Jails are also where people come from prison while they are going to court for trial, so we get a little of everything. Most of them are there for drugs, ETOH, or domestic violence. With the females, it's usually drugs, ETOH, or prostitution. Prisons are for longer term sentencing, for more serious violations, although now with the 3 strikes type of mandatory sentencing guidelines there are more people going to prison than ever.

gee-who knew? thanks for the info...I hope that factoid turns up in Trivial Pursuit someday....

Jail - city or county

Prison - state, federal or military

__________________________

"May the light always find you on a dreary day. When you need to be home, may you find your way. May you always have courage to take a chance, and never find frogs in your underpants."

-a middle aged Scandanavian

Hi psych rn

I think being a victim of crime can influence how one feels about inmates. I do have a problem at times with my feelings towards child molesters and rapists. I try to act professional towards all inmates. However, since I was sexually molested at age 6 and viciously raped at age 14 I doubt if I will ever become one of those inmate-lover type nurses.

I don't understand how someone can hurt a child and then be released from prison? There was a guy at my last job who was HIV positive who raped little boys and he was released!!!!

This sickens me!!!

I use to live in Calif. and many years ago I visited a prison for drug addicts. They had the most beautiful swimming pool for the inmates and Health spa equipment too!! I was so shocked and angry!! Why couldn't the state use that money to get a nice warm pool for the innocent elderly who have painful joints?

No instead they use the money so these drug addicts who rip off the elderly can live like royalty!!-All at taxpaper's expense of course!

:confused: :o

Do you really think you're in the right field of nursing considering all that you've been through? I 'm not sure how many people really "love" inmates but it sounds like you have a particularily negative bias towards them that could indirectly come through in how you treat them which could have bad repercussions someday.

Responding as you did to another post where you expressed joy at the thought of transferring to a prison where the inmates are abused supports my view. :o I hope you find what you're looking for.

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