Anyone work at a Jail or Prison?

kiminga · Nov 4, 2009

I have been working in a prison for 2 years. The type of care is chronic / pallative. There is a lot of emergency trauma care. Imates with self inflicted wounds from minor cuts that can be steri stripped to wounds needing sutures . They will cut themselves any where including their genitals . Fights are another way inmates get injuries from minor to severe to death. They will cuss at you threaten you show you there member. Manipulation is a fine honed skill in prison . You must be thick skined with strong nerves and a good poker face because if they know they can get to you they will every chance they get.

nursetaminator · Nov 5, 2009

It depends on what type of unit you work for. I worked in a minimum security prison state prison and it was the same as kiminga said: chronic/pallative. My best friend works in a higher level security state prison and it's like a regular E.R. for her some days. She gets to deal with so much more care. They also have in-patients at their infirmary. She's had such a huge range of disease processes to deal with, cardiac arrests, etc - pretty much you name it she's dealt with it.

The major issue with prisons is your mind set and what you're willing to deal with. You have to be on your toes ALL THE TIME. Those inmates have nothing better to do with their time but sit around and scheme. They're constantly testing you. It is an entirely different world. I actually enjoyed it but my husband hated it. Some nurses freak when they go on the unit and those doors lock behind them. The prison system is a whole different beast. But usually the pay is way above any other place and the benefits are great.

Good luck!