[ChangeofPace]

First off, do all these correctional jobs offer a self defense course BEFORE you start working or no? How long is orientation usually?

My husband is worried and it's rubbing off on me! He's scared I'll get attacked or AIDS if someone bites me ect.. I've been reading the posts and I really want to try it but I don't want to be blacklisted if I choose NOT to do corrections. Any alternatives? I work for an agency on the side but they always send me in places blind and I don't want to go to corrections without knowing the drill.

What is the LPN's job/role for days and nights? How do you know where you will be? I'm trying to figure out what to ask in the interview so I know what's going on. Is my best bet a min security to start out?

I have a little over 1 year experience in LTC and I wonder if that is enough. I really didn't have to assess anyone in emergency situations (I'm an LPN so we don't technically assess anyway) and if there was a serious problem, I would just call 911 and send them out.

Also, I wouldn't want to get on the officers bad side either. Let's face it, I'm sure inmates are mistreated and I know it's my job to make sure everyone is treated fairly and I would have to report abuse ect.. how do you handle that without becoming a target?

[Turd.Ferguson]

Good questions.

I work in a medium-security prison. We did get some basic self-defense before being allowed to move about on our own. There has never been a physical attack on medical people at our prison.

The LPN's job/role will vary from prison to prison.

I was a nurse for less than one year before becoming a correctional nurse. However, I have a long background of skills that aids in my present position.

Also, I wouldn't want to get on the officers bad side either. Let's face it, I'm sure inmates are mistreated and I know it's my job to make sure everyone is treated fairly and I would have to report abuse ect.. how do you handle that without becoming a target?

Careful here. (1) The officers are the only reason things are safe in a prison. Without them, you are fair game to the inmates. (2) Don't be so sure that inmates are mistreated. You have to put into context who you're talking about. What may seem harsh to you may in fact be a necessity. It would not be your job to make sure everyone is treated fairly. It would be your job to provide healthcare. There are systems in a prison that the inmates can utilize to make sure they are treated fairly. You do not want to isolate yourself by reporting what you consider unfair treatment. You simply do not ever know the complete picture when it comes to inmates.

[VegRN]

I would have to respectfully disagree with the previous poster. I have seen from my experience that inmates with certain crimes (sex offenders) are sometimes treated more harshly by certain officers. This is not always true but there does seem to be 2-3 officers that make it their job to make these inmates sentences extra difficult.

That said, most of the time, I am thankful for the officers being there.

No self defense course was included for me but be aware that some prisons do.

The chances of getting AIDS through a bite or even a needle stick are extremely low. According to the CDC it is 0.3% chance of being infected when being stuck with an HIV contaminated needle when post exp prophylaxis is obtained. It is still less that 1% if the prophylaxis is not obtained.. You should review the information on that website relating to hep C and HIV transmission in occupational settings. It is very informative and should help you calm down a bit.

Medical staff are not often the target of the inmates violence. The inmates are more often violent towards other inmates and less often, the officers.

All the other questions you mentioned will need to be asked during the interview since prisons vary so much on nursing responsibilities.

[zacsmimi]

I worked in corrections with zero training in advance, never did get any self defense training. The officers are like any other people- some are good and some arent so good. I never saw any really out of line stuff... occasional questionable... but nothing ever way out of line. Was never attacked. Inmates desperately want to be SEEN. Look them in the eye, treat them straight, with respect and directness. They will appreciate it. I never let any of them tell me why they were in. That helped me be sure that I was not predjudiced. Ask questions at your interview. Find out what you would be responsible for. Lots of mental illness and drug abuse, and most of them are grateful for medical care. I loved the work, hated the politics.

[Nur_1996]

I have training in the Juvinile corrections program. However I did not working in the prision previously

[OldMareLPN]

Good questions.

First understand that as a correctional nurse, you are a guest in thier house.

You probably will be passing meds to the general population. Depending on the facility, this may be either inside the pod, or at the door. Either way the CO is at your side to maintain order.

Do not shoot your foot and start about inmate abuse. First of all your are just there a few minutes of the day. Don't ask about raccoon eyes, don't ask when you see extra portions slipped under the mashed potatoes. Refer all inmates questions to the CO. It is not being hard, just maintaining the process. If you don't you will never finish your rounds.

Care not what a inmate is in jail for. This will affect your judgement during passing them meds or doing sick call. Remember a inmate today may be the guy behind you in line at Walmarts tomorrow. I want my clients to thank me for fair and good nursing in line when I am with my wife. You are not their judge or jury.

For me I love correctional nursing where I am now. Another county jail was the pits, so it depends alot on the facility/company.

I feel safe as long as I follow the rules.

[JailHouseTeer]

I kind of chuckled when I read the self defence course. Hun I have been doing this for 21 years now 20 of it in the trenches. I have worked just about every unit that we have in Arkansas and I would not work any place else! I no longer work in the trenches but took a position with the prison system as their HIV Coordinator.
I have only had one inmate really want to jump me and that was the extent of it an officer had control of him and he was transferred. He later jumped on another inmate and was sent to max till he was released. I have no problems in here.

[jamangel]

The self defense class was kind of funny. Should you have one? Yes. Will you get one? Probably not. Some facilities are better than others at giving you some kind of course on the way of corrections and all you will need to know.

Personally, I love corrections. The work is straight forward, very cut and dry. To me inmates are humorous. Every nurse has her own way of dealing with them.

I have worked prisons but I am working Jail part time and my philosophy is that even I find out what they are there for it can't change how I treat them. I'm just that way. Jail nursing makes it difficult not to know the offense because it's local and if you read the paper or watch the news you will know. I serve people incarcerated. Yep they're incarcerated and I serve them. I've seen people I've grown up with, school mates, relatives etc. I can't afford to allow myself to get involved in their mess or their madness but I treat them with respect and they respect me. These people don't always go to prison some of them do a few months, weeks, days and even hours and they're released and I'll see them in the Mall or Target.

People remember how you treat them-period.

If someone steps out of line with you then let the CO or Deputy handle it. Find you a rhythm and don't let them slow you down. At the jail where I work, I do pill call and there's another nurse who does booking and "I need to see the nurse" and etc.

As far as HIV, do what you normally do and let that fear go.