Advice needed from experienced correctional nurses!

[JessicaRN2008]

I am a new grad and have gone for an interview at the state prison near my hometown. My love has always been psychology, and I thought corrections would be somewhat similar, since there are no psych openings at the other hospitals right now. I was offered the job (4pm-12am) and accepted (now am just awaiting background check etc. to begin work). The supervisor that I interviewed with stated that I would have "a few weeks" of orientation and then would be on my own. Safety on the unit seemed great, so I am not concerned with that. I guess as any new grad, I am just nervous about starting this new career. Plus, I want to know I will have a GOOD orientation (and hopefully will). I'm sure I will be oriented to my duties, protocols and such during orientation. I am just curious on what "typical" duties and most common patients you all see at different facilities? What is a typical shift like for a correctional nurse? and what advice would you give me from your own experience that I could use as a new nurse? I am excited, even though I am a little nervous! :)

[aknurs]

Well I'm sure each facility is different. There should be a protocol,policy & procedures book somewhere in the department. But here's what we do in mine. We have 500-530 inmates.... We have some always coming or going, so we do intakes(the welcome wagon:) ) We take care of traumas, anywhere from fights,(sometimes bad ones) industry accidents, burns(usually from kitchen workers)sometimes from one inmate throwing scalding water mixed with shampoo,on another Inmate..Self induced trauma, chest pains, the sniffles,colds, flu, back pain,shoulder pain, body pain, you name it,plus the psyche emergencies.Plus the ones with Seizures, diabetes etc. we have it all..We pass pills, three times a day Two of the med passes, the inmate come to us.One we go to them,(the Maximum housing unit)..Do lots of paperwork. Make clinic schedules..It's busy, but it's not...It's hard to explain...I love it..

[lauradrizzt]

I have been working in correctional nursing field for about thirteen years and I would say that what you have to deal with on a daily basis depends on what sort of facility you work at. I have worked maximum security, death row, med, min security, work release and juveniles. It all depends...as the security level increases so does the acting out and hostile behavior. Max inmates like to shock and intimidate...so masturbating, cursing and threatening are big things to expect...Best to not react at all...Don't listen to flattery and find yourself in an awkward position....these are clients, not potential dates.. Don't be afraid to speak up if you feel you or anyone is in danger...Correctional nursing can be a blast if you like variety and are not sensitive...I love it. Good luck!

[Truegem]

You should have protocols for just about everything you see in a routine sick call. Like for a cold, do this, this and this and give them such and such medicine. It should be pretty spelled out. If you don't have a protocol, then you need to decide, should I call the doctor now or can this person wait to see the doctor in the morning? Or should they go out to the hospital? Should they go out by car, ambulance or paramedics? These decisions will be scary at first but you will figure it out. Soon you will start to see the same things over and over, like seizures and chest pain and you will become more and more confident. Sometimes you will see brand new things. Even after 14 years in corrections I see some things I have never seen before! Just go by your assessment and vitals and the general appearance of the patient. You'll catch on! Always better to play it safe and send them out when you are in doubt. Bounce things off your co-workers. I am a strong believer that you should always be comfortable bouncing things off your co-workers no matter how long you have been a nurse. You do want to try to gain independence though, not lean on your co-workers to answer every question for you. But that will come with time. Good luck! It's a neet job!