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 registered JUST to comment here and give a big THANK YOU to all those who've contributed.

I'm looking to work this field, and will add some of my own once I do.

I just had an interview in a correctional facility and these questions are almost word for word what I was asked.

dchaugen said:
The following questions are included in our oral examination for Registered Nurses:

1. Describe your background in nursing and how this will compliment the duties for a Correctional Health Nurse.

2. You will be making decisions about whether an inmate seen by you may need to see an MD. What are some factors you would consider in your decision?

3. What are some key principles of infection control?

4. An inmate/resident presents with complaints of pain in his left ear. Discuss your assessment process.

5. Manipulative behavior is very common among the inmate population. what are some nursing skills that are helpful in dealing with this behavior?6. Describe your attributes and experiences that would enhance your ability to work with a diverse population.

7. Practicing nursing in a correctional facility requires specialized skills, knowledge and work behaviors. Describe what you think they are.

Hope you find this helpful!

I just had a correctional nurse interview and these questions are almost word for word the same.

Up in Canada here - my interview at the regional medium/max facility is tomorrow. This thread has been amazing! Fingers crossed.

How is your interview? Cuz i have mine interview on monday for clinical 2 for correctional facilty in santa ana. Any advice.

Just received an offer at a jail here in Nashville! I'm so excited!

A week later I got the call that I got hired, so excited! Thanks again to all of the posters here.

Orca said:
We always ask applicants how they believe that their nursing practice might change as a result of working in a prison environment. We are looking for things such as maintaining professional distance, not offering to do favors for inmates, security concerns and so forth.

We ask applicants to tell us something we might not know about them from reading their applications. We ask them about their best work-related trait, and a how they would deal with someone they observed working outside his/her scope of practice. We also ask them how they approach problem solving, and to give an example of how they applied this approach to a work problem.

I don't have the interview questions in front of me, but that covers a good part of our interview.

Would a candidate who had a family member in the prison system be disqualified or would you look at them with more interest since they have some "experience", if you want to call it that, with the prison system?

Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
will.to.nurse said:
Would a candidate who had a family member in the prison system be disqualified or would you look at them with more interest since they have some "experience", if you want to call it that, with the prison system?

In my system, that wouldn't have an effect one way or another. We ask the question at the end of each interview whether the applicant has a friend or family member incarcerated in any correctional system. The purpose of the question is not to assign the person to the facility where the inmate is incarcerated, in the event that the applicant is offered employment.

Visiting or corresponding with an inmate is not considered experience with corrections.

Hello, what is the online exam like? How can I prepare?

I have been with corrections for about 5 months now! I have decided to apply for a lead nurse position!! Any ideas of the questions thney may aske??

I love how this thread has been active since 2009!!! I was not thinking of correctional nursing as an option for me but after reading all the comments and seeing how supportive everyone is with one another, I may start to consider it.

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