Common Correctional Nursing Interview Questions

I'm collecting a compendium of Interview Questions and best answers for folks prepping for a correctional nursing job interviews. Could you chime in with yours even if you might have posted elsewhere on this forum? It would be good to have them all in one place for newbies searching this site.

Thanks for all the time and effort you spend helping new correctional nurses learn the ropes!

I found this to be very helpful. I read everybody's post last night and went for the interview this morning at Fresno county jail. I've been working for two years at a pediatric hospital but was always interested in corrections. I was offered the job on the spot. I hope I don't regret this transition.

Specializes in Forensic Psych RN.

Congratulations! It sounds like you have a good idea of what your patient demographic is, and you made the choice to be there. Here is some unsolicited free advice from me: I would read through Lorry Schoenly's blogs for some quick education for starting the job and go back and read it more when you have time. Ask your facility for the DMV paperwork you can file, through your facility, to have your personal information suppressed for privacy. Always trust that little voice in your head, but never trust an inmate, though give them the same respect, as earned and with appropriate boundaries, to the inmates that you would want. Do what you say. Inmates know the staff that does what they said they would do and the ones that do not. It is the fasted way to earn respect and have the population work with you. Always go to your team and immediately report any funny business like inmates trying to get you to bring things in. For example, I worked with a nurse, and went through school with her, that was asked by an inmate to bring in a flash drive. Of course she refused. Because he was to be discharged in the near future, she let it go and did not report it. The inmate, probably as an offense, told staff she was soliciting him for sex in the treatment room. It almost ruined her career, caused her license to be in jeopardy and she was under investigation. It all turned out well but it was a lot of hell to go through. In any gray areas report and chart. I document any staff related issues by sending myself an email on the hospital email which gives it a time and date stamp. Believe me, sometimes it is hard to tell the inmates from some staff. Sometimes the less said to inmates the better, i.e. explaining certain processes...that can set someone off if it isn't what they want to hear. Never be alone. Fresno has a HUGE meth problem so that is probably a lot of what you will see. Keep in mind that most of your population will be detoxing whether it is drugs or alcohol which also makes them impulsive and dangerous. If you are a RN, you are most likely the highest level of medical during your shift unless the physician is present. Remember that and do not let any staff try to circumvent you on clinical decisions. I work for the State of CA. You may want to look at the open jobs in the state hospital system. It is also forensic, butdifferent kind of population as it is psych. The pay and benefits are very, very good. Best of luck and get used to not wanting anyone walking behind you ever. :up:

Hi Everyone! I think I'm a bit late answering on here but when I first got my LVN license I worked at CA State Prison-DVI and I don't remember much of the interview questions except:

1) If an inmate is found hanging from their bed, what do you do?

2) An inmate c/o left arm numbness & pressure on chest, what do u think is happening?

But today, after being out of work for 3 years cuz of going back to school, I had another LVN interview for SMC and the questions were:

1) describe skills & qualifications for position

2) largest population given meds to and how long it took to pass the meds

3) inmate question the meds given what to do

4) what does team player mean

5) TB Q: have u administered tb skin test before- how long till u read it- how many mm is indication of positive reading

6) what to do in case of med error

7) how to maintain positive relationship with coworkers, management, physicians?

Hopefully I get this job! its a lot closer to home!

Do not forget about blood sugars!

I was so focused on safety that I forgot to mention, check blood sugars. Even though I talked about patient possibly being a diabetic.

I will never forget that again in an interview! Frustrating, because I check blood sugars all the time at my current position.

All questions were a variation of what is on here, and what are 5 side effects of antidepressants.

Just had an interview not too long ago. They want someone who is there to be a NURSE, not someone who will taunt the prisoners. They asked me when was the last time I got in someone's face? My statement was never.... I can set firm boundaries and limits. Assertiveness is always better than aggression. Another few questions were, what would I do if I caught a nurse giving the wrong pills to the wrong patients. A lot of legal ethical. They'll want to know about your confidence as a nurse and how you will handle situations. For example. What if you found an inmate down? First thing, summon a guard!!! Then check if there may be any danger present and then assess them. You have to have great assessment skills for corrections. And you can not go in there like you own the place. We are the nurses and this is their home. Good luck!

Can anyone answer this please? If you see inmate hanging with strain, what would you do?

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
ripy said:
Can anyone answer this please? If you see inmate hanging with strain, what would you do?

What do you think should be done?

Specializes in Forensic Psych RN.

Most nurses think in terms of "taking action", but in corrections nursing, the action you take is to make sure you are safe first before attending to the inmate involved. My action in this case would be be to assess the environment and pull my alarm or yell to bring help. The corrections officer would make the call about the situation being safe to proceed. Most likely, there would be a combination effort of supporting the patient while he is being cutdown. Most facilities have special cutdown knives for this purpose. For purposes of interviewing, they are looking to see if you will approach with a safety first mindset and follow the protocol in most facilities which is to not enter until the C.O. has deemed it safe. A lot of things can happen in forensics....did other inmates set this up and hang the inmate straining so that staff would run in to the scene and make themselves vulnerable. if you don't have experience in forensics, the default protocol is: don't enter the scene because you don't know if it is safe, call for help, wait for the ok to proceed, then follow the facility protocol for the action needed. If you have not already, look through the list of interview questions for correction job interviews. This forum is great for finding support and answers.

Thanks for answer my question.i answered same as above you replied, but they ask me after help come then what would u do?i explained them to assess the inmate and call emergency help,but they still not statisfied from my answered.

Hi, i just wanted to thank everyone of you for the help. I read all the posts for the corrections interview. I went on Tues. and was so prepared that i got the job. Thank you all again. This is such a great site!!

I have schedule to have interview at the state prison ,what are the frequently question ask?Thanks!

The only specific question I can remember from my interview (at a 500-bed, mixed gender county jail) was something along the lines of "what do you see yourself doing professionally in five years?" I also vaguely remember getting some questions about my ability to independently problem-solve.

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