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!

Specializes in behavioral health.

I can remember having a question at interview for county jail: The IM threw the water and pills back at the nurse. What would I do in a situation like that. I remember that my answer was that I would document in notes that IM refused meds and move onto next IM. I am not certain how things work in the jail, but would put a note in the drs. box about IM conduct and refusal of meds. I would assume that CO would take care of the consequences for the IM behavior to the nurse. Also, I would have to look at he meds and see if there would be any immediate dangers of his missing dose, e.g. if he is a diabetic on po meds. If there would be a high risk of the missed dose, then I would contact the house doctor after the pill pass. I don't know what the appropriate answer was.

That was for a county jail LPN position. Now, I just applied for an LPN position at a small county prison. It houses inmates with up to two years sentence. I will have to pull out my books and read up on some illnesses that I would see, in the event that I get called for an interview.

I know that it is very likely that much of the population has a personality disorder, substance abuse, or other mental illness. I think that it is important to show that you are not easily manipulated. I would not let my personal ethics or values get in the way of the nursing treatment of the IM. They are human, no matter what their crime is and it is my job to give the standard nursing care that I would give anyone. Also, I would definitely maintain my professional boundaries and not give out any personal information about myself.

Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

I forgot one thing on that question I answered. Check for the correct ID band! :)

While this is an older thread, thanks just the same for all the info! I'm sure it still bears some, if not much, relevance =D

I have an interview coming up at a correctionla facility in ca. Anybody have an idea of the questions they ask nurse practioners?

Dakus,

I cant answer your question directly but I have a friend who went on a corrections NP interview- they did not ask specific care/disease questions. More general- why would you want to work here, how did u get interested, that type of thing.

Let me know how your interview goes. I am an unemployed NP and have been contemplating corrections.

Specializes in substance abuse, psych, LTC, corrections.

I was asked "What was the biggest mistake you have ever made as a nurse"? I was honest and received supportive feedback from my interviewer.

Just Hired!!! ? THANKS to ALL here. I read every thread & post here & without you all I may have turned down a job I am now thrilled to be starting.

As for my interview.... I was asked to read from a sheet of paper with 10 scenarios & give my reply. As best as I can remember:

1. When is it/ when would you d/c cpr. A: SAFETY!!!! Obvious mortal injury, triage considerations, fatigue..

2. Couple of ? re: TB... how to test.. know your procedure, what to do/how to treat a pt who is + TB... I said meds, ensuring compliance, diet, rest, fluids, probably put a mask on them cuz the air/droplet transmission, isolation.

3. You find an inmate who cut his wrists... I swear this exact ? is here somewhere... bleeding to death what do you do. ... this is a prison... you don't do jack until your scene is safe. Answer is to get a guard first.

4. Something about diabetes education.....Diet, testing, etc. EZ...

5. Two ? about inappropriate relationships with inmates.. I was helped here by a huge poster in the lobby. I didn't see anything about that here. Pretty obvious stuff though: A coworker who has a special inmate, bringing them treats, contacting their family, volunteering for OT, being found where you shouldn't be with inmate. What would you do? Hello! The answer is to tattle on them, even if in reality you might want to talk to them one on one first.

6. One ? asked about having to lift something too heavy for you & this was a trick ? if ever I saw one. The job description says you have to be able to lift 25 pounds, period. (I just had back & knee surgery, so this is a rather sensitive issue for me). The answer was related to the weight listed & job description. I said that it would depend on how much over the weight, what kind of lift is was, the urgency of the need, & of course, always #1, SAFETY. They seemed satisfied.

7. You just discovered you gave a whole tab to a patient when you were only supposed to give half, what do you do. #1 is always SAFETY. I answered that I would first review, quickly, the drug & other Rx's the patient had & their overall medical condition. Then tell my supervisor, document, & monitor patient for adverse reactions and lastly, make sure it never happens again.

That's all I can remember for the ? They also asked why I thought I'd be a good fit. That was EZ for me. I have a background in psych, 12 years in EMS, & many years volunteering at free clinics. I think everyone deserves health care & hey, what a great opportunity to make an impact on a, uh, captive audience. At least here I can be sure they are really taking their Rxs!

When it was my turn to ask ? I was well prepared, thanks to all nurse.com!! What kind of training will I get? They loved that & it's great, just great. I also asked the usual: what is their time frame, what are my perceived weaknesses, what can I do to get the job.. etc...

I was halfway to my car when I heard my name over the loudspeaker asking me to come back. I was HIRED!!! ? ? It was a week later before the actual dollar offer came in. It is hands down the highest salary I could get in this area as a new grad. And.. state benefits!! Wow am I blessed!

One more thing: this is what they call a transfer facility. Our inmates are either going to anther prison or home. I am told that this makes it a "cream puff' of a correctional nursing job. I'd welcome any comments on that. I start 5/2. 2 weeks of training.

Good Luck!!! I studied for my interview & was very, very glad.

I have an interview in 10 days. I have had my RN for over a year now but I have gotten my nursing books back out. I am studying everything everyone has post here. I want to be prepared. I really want this position! Thank you to everyone who has posted.

@kitamon,

What state are you in and the name of the facility

Hi guys,

I got a question in an interview for med/surg position that totally blew me off. The question was "how would you respond to a patient that tells you that a night nurse told him that we are dangerously under staff? how do you reply to that?

Thanks

Specializes in Emergency Department.

Thanks everyone for this thread. I just accepted a RN job with the AZ DOC and the questions posted here really helped me out. Specifically, the question about what I would do if I found an IM bleeding out, hanging, etc. The answer: make sure the area is secure and call for help first before trying to assess the IM. IOW, YOUR SAFETY is priority!

ChuckeRN said:
Thanks everyone for this thread. I just accepted a RN job with the AZ DOC and the questions posted here really helped me out. Specifically, the question about what I would do if I found an IM bleeding out, hanging, etc. The answer: make sure the area is secure and call for help first before trying to assess the IM. IOW, YOUR SAFETY is priority!

ChuckeRN,

I have 2 interviews next week with the AZDOC...what type of questions do they ask in the interview process? I'm trying to do my homework ?

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