changing gears at 46 to County Jail?

Specialties Correctional

Published

Hi All. I am putting my application in for the county jail. I was contracting out my services independently but my husband wants to start his own business and I need to have benefits for both of us. I have no clue what goes on there nursing wise. I am very independent, have good organizational skills. After working home health for a long time, I had to be independent, your on your own out there. Can anyone offer me advice on what I should concentrate on in my cover letter? Thanks!!

Specializes in Behavioral, correctional, med surg.

Wow, I probably have many conversations with my supervisor that I should not have behind those walls. We don't really say anything wrong but we talk a lot about the relationship between security and medical.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

update: Things are beginning to look up. The commander was really quiet for about two days and suddenly started asking my opinion, and taking my advice. I think someone above must have said something to him. Now when he's sick, he comes to me for help. Either that or he learned to trust me. I know about the recording conversations, I've even been suspicious that my own phone was tapped as it blanks out often yet you can still talk. Sometimes my line in the medical dept does the same thing and it sounds like your talking in a can. I still don't trust him though, and I make it a practice never to get involved in a conversation about another employee. I'm really loveing the job though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Behavioral, correctional, med surg.

Just curious NurseT...........things still looking up for you?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

jailDON: thanks for asking. Sometimes things go really well and other days...... At one point 2wks ago the commander says " you know,I don't mind if you take your lunch at the end of your shift". I very seldom take time out for lunch so I thought it was a nice gesture on his part, seeing as that's the most he could muster and doesn't really have the right to dictate to me anyway. So for a whole week I went ahead and left considering the last hour my lunch and wondering how long it would last. Well sure enough he took it back and says, "well, someone complained". I've decided it wasn't a dirty trick but sheer ignorance. I am the only medical person in the jail so I get tired of having to justify the compensation and respect that comes with education and professionalism. I really like the job though. I'm really glad I have the background that I do, these inmates feed everybody a pack of lies. Today an officer comes to me and says, "wow, you gotta go see the abcess under (inmates) arm, he said it's infected and it's been that way for a long time". the inmate has been incarcerated here for 1yr and has never turned in a medical request. So I grab an officer and go look. It was a pimple. I was so dissapointed. I was hoping for somethig really cool. Most of the time it's boring but every once in a while I get some excitement.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

jailDON: thanks for asking. Sometimes things go really well and other days...... At one point 2wks ago the commander says " you know,I don't mind if you take your lunch at the end of your shift". I very seldom take time out for lunch so I thought it was a nice gesture on his part, seeing as that's the most he could muster and doesn't really have the right to dictate to me anyway. So for a whole week I went ahead and left considering the last hour my lunch and wondering how long it would last. Well sure enough he took it back and says, "well, someone complained". I've decided it wasn't a dirty trick but sheer ignorance. I am the only medical person in the jail so I get tired of having to justify the compensation and respect that comes with education and professionalism. I really like the job though. I'm really glad I have the background that I do, these inmates feed everybody a pack of lies. Today an officer comes to me and says, "wow, you gotta go see the abcess under (inmates) arm, he said it's infected and it's been that way for a long time". the inmate has been incarcerated here for 1yr and has never turned in a medical request. So I grab an officer and go look. It was a pimple. I was so dissapointed. I was hoping for somethig really cool. Most of the time it's boring but every once in a while I get some excitement.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Behavioral, correctional, med surg.

LOL, a pimple! You never know what you are going to see. That's why I tell my nurses to never triage over the phone.

Maybe after everyone gets used to you and learns you are smart and know what you are doing, they will show more respect. Are you on-call 24/7 like I am? That DESERVES compensation!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Behavioral, correctional, med surg.

LOL, a pimple! You never know what you are going to see. That's why I tell my nurses to never triage over the phone.

Maybe after everyone gets used to you and learns you are smart and know what you are doing, they will show more respect. Are you on-call 24/7 like I am? That DESERVES compensation!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, I am on call 24/7. Some days I'm really busy and others I'm bored to tears. If I want some entertainment, I just go sit in booking for awhile. It's pretty funny most of the time. I'm on a salary so I don't get compensated for the on call. That's one reason I think I should just be able to leave if all the medical is taken care of. They can call me if they really need me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment