Application Process for State Prison

[BloodRN]

Hi!

I am in the application process for a nursing position at a state pen which houses the worst criminals in the state. I have been a RN since 2009 and worked only 9 months on a Med/Surg floor before becoming a Charge Nurse for a blood center. I love my job which I deal with healthy people who donate blood and I supervise Phlebotomists but the hours are crazy. I have many years to work yet and feel this could be my career position.

Since I have been out of the clinical setting for the past four years, I feel like I am at disadvantage. Am I wasting my time? Is there somewhere I can brush up on skills while in the application phase? Once I am back in a clinical setting, I know that I can do the skilled nursing with some direction. I wonder if the nurses inside are like older hospital nurses who practically eat their young and forget what it is like to be a new nurse.

Also, I was trying to research my prison to see how big their unit or clinic was and I came across an article from the end of May which said that a nurse at this prison was assaulted by a prisoner who is being charged with attempted murder. Hence, the opening.....

Advice from any State Pen Nurses would be appreciated!!

[apoppyfield, BSN, RN]

My thought after reading your post is that if you have something going on that's good, why change?

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

My thought after reading your post is that if you have something going on that's good, why change?

One possible reason is job security. When you work for a private sector firm, you work at their pleasure, and they can cut you loose at any time with or without cause. State facilities also do not call off for low census. You are guaranteed hours once you sign on.

To the OP: Attacks can occur anywhere, including where you work now. To be honest, I feel safer on prison yards than I ever did walking the back hallways of the hospitals I worked in at night. As far as skills go, the main skill you will use is physical assessment. Inmates tend to exaggerate and fabricate symptoms to get either a trip to the hospital or medications. There are numerous resources available online to help you brush up on assessment skills.

As far as your potential future coworkers go, there is no straight answer to that question. It varies widely by facility, and each place has a different mix of personalities. Find out how long the orientation period is, and if additional orientation is available if you believe that you need it at the end of that period. That will tell you a lot about how invested the place is in helping employees succeed. Our orientation period typically runs 3-4 weeks, although we have ended it early for nurses who pick things up quickly and don't appear to need the additional training. We also offer additional orientation if it is needed.

[BostonNurseNic, MSN]

I agree with the last reply, your assessment skills will be far more valuable than any other skill necessary. I currently work at a county jail & correctional center and find it far safer than many other types of facilities. The hours and benefits can't be beat. These types of facilities tend to pay a higher rate, especially for new/newer nurses and the experience is invaluable. Good luck and don't be discouraged.