[angiern2000]

Hello fellow nurses,
I am in desperate need of some information, a pep talk, or both. I have worked the past six years as an RN in pediatric home health, community health, and med surg( PT/registry). After working 3 years PT in med surg, I left feeling insecure about my nursing abilities. I have never been so unhappy in a job- it burned me out fast. I left nursing for the past year and a half to help my husband with his business, and to stay at home with my 3 children. My question is this- 1. Can someone tell me how corrections compares to med surg. I am so afraid that I am getting back into that setting and not even knowing it. 2. With me being out for 1 1/2 years, will I drown due to not being up to date with my nursing skills ( kindof rusty). I was very confident with my other nursing jobs, and now med surg has left me scarred regarding my abilities. Nothing major has ever happened, but I want to make sure that I'm not going back to med surg in a different form. Thank you in advance for reading, and I look forward to some insightful info!

[mtsteelhorse]

Rest assured unless you are in a large, understaffed facility corrections is NOTHING like med/surg. I've been in correctional nursing 2 1/2 yrs and love it. It requires sharp assessment skills and self-confidence beyond that in the general population. A lot depends on the facility you're looking at as I don't have experience with large prisons. It's a great career!

[shell911rn]

It depends on what part of jail/prison you work in. The prison I work in has medical clinics and an infirmary. If you are in the infirmary, you will need more med/surg skills. If you work in the medical clinics, it is like working in a doctor's office/urgent care/ER. If you are medicating inmates in the housing units, it is like working in a convalescent facility. If you are open to learning and your fellow coworkers are willing to help you, you'll make it. I was an ER nurse before so my med/surg skills aren't that great either, but, I ask questions of those RN's who have worked in those areas for advice on how to handle things that are med/surg related. Home health is a good skill to have as well b/c we try to make sure our chronic care inmates and paraplegics are as independent as possible. Request training or seek out training on your own for those things that you are confronted with that you aren't sure how to handle. If all else fails, take an RN refresher course so you can feel more comfortable with your skills. The inmates sometimes will try to play off your weaknesses, especially to get extra things like supplies, medications, or snacks, so even if you don't feel confident, don't let the inmate know that.

[angiern2000]

Thank you both so much for your reply to my question, I will be working at a women's prison that holds about 1100 women. I have no idea what area of the healthcare unit I will be in, but based on a few discussions with some nurses, and the walk through to show me the facility before I went in for my interview, it sounds like I will be everywhere. Thank you for being positive, I have read alot of threads that were positive, and then I read a really negative one last night about correctional nurses and it scared me to death. Thank you again- I hope I am as happy in it as you are. It sounds like OB and psych are the main components in this job, which I love both, but having very limited experience in delivering babies, other than having my three and going through clinicals, this really scares me. I can only hope that the training is good. Thanks again!!

[mtsteelhorse]

It's 99% attitude. If you like your work environment and those that work with you the job will be what you make it. I find nurses in corrections either love it or hate it...some just tolerate it as a source of income. You can never know all there is to know in any area of nursing. The great thing about being a nurse is we have the foundation to build on. You will learn as you go because in corrections every day is different. Remember to utilize resources and networks...ask questions and use the internet to research what you don't feel comfortable with. I find women to sometimes be the toughest to deal with in corrections but many are so appreciative to see a nurse they can open up to. Enjoy and feel free to ask questions!

Best of Luck!

[angiern2000]

Thanks So Much Again- I Am So Glad That I Found This Site- I Think It'll Really Help Me Get Through The Unknown. Hopefully In The Near Future, I'll Be Writing To New Nurses, And Helping Them Get Through- Just Like You All.

[JailRN]

Good luck if you choose correctional nursing. I love it. My boss wanted to staff the jail ONLY with RN's who had ICU, CCU, or ER experience. I would rather have a home health nurse who can think outside the box. Here, we don't have a hospital setting, (we DO have a contract hospital nearby that we can send IM to), and some nurses just can't make a decision without the support of a whole team to help. He FINALLY came around to my way of thinking.

Remember, IM's are guaranteed medical care. It's a Constitutional right. They know the system, they created it. They don't want to be here, (unlike a hospital, where people come willingly for care) and they will lie, cheat, steal, and sell their mother's soul to get out. (of course this doesn't apply to all, just like in the hospital), but you have to be resiliant, serious, unflappable, (at least in front of them for they will mistake kindness for weakness and chew you up and spit you out) It's possible to be respectful, professionable and deliver quality nursing care without letting them think you are a bleeding heart and gullible.

It's not perfect, but it's perfect for me. Everyone is different. Let us know how you do!!

[shell911rn]

JailRN,
I couldn't agree with you more about the home health experience...Correctional facilities aren't going to stock you with all the supplies and the newest contraptions you would find in a private hospital to make your job easier...Administrations' concerns are doing things as cheaply as possible...It's like working in a third world country and you have to learn how to make what you have work...Always remember what your goal is when treating the patient and figure out what equipment you have that will help you reach that goal...As much as I hate the politics of my job, I love the setting...I learn something new and have new experiences almost every day...It's hard to believe I once thought working in the ER was the most exciting thing...I got bored with that real quick :x The only dull days I've had in prison are watching inmates on suicide precautions or watch...And even some of those can be pretty interesting...

[JailRN]

Have to tell you, Shell911RN, (and I ent back and told our chief of police) I worked recently at a MAJOR awards show, and I have better equipment in jail, than I had at the show.

[shell911rn]

JailRN,
Sounds like whoever was putting the show together didn't have an idea of what they would be dealing with and how to plan for what they might be dealing with in terms of emergencies. It's more disappointing to me at my workplace that the nurses in management don't plan for what we deal with and make sure we have the proper supplies, though, when that is a primary role we play, not just a secondary role that is there if something happens. It's not rocket science and we are already in enough hot water as it is that you'd think we'd get our act together!!! It's frustrating to say the least...I'm used to proactive nurses and in my workplace, there's a lot more reactive, and the reaction is only a bandaid that doesn't fix the problem...I guess that's state government for ya!