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!

To Lorry... I sure appreciate this thread. Am considering corrections now; have most of my experience in psych (both inpatient and outpatient) nursing. Have had lots of experience with the use of restraints/seclusion, but somehow the idea that I'd be working with inmates makes me nervous. Do you think this environment is safer than in a psych ward?

Wouldn't it depend on what level inmates you intend to work with?

mswRN said:
To Lorry... I sure appreciate this thread. Am considering corrections now; have most of my experience in psych (both inpatient and outpatient) nursing. Have had lots of experience with the use of restraints/seclusion, but somehow the idea that I'd be working with inmates makes me nervous. Do you think this environment is safer than in a psych ward?
Specializes in ICU CCU ER.

Hi I was wondering if anyone knew what type of questions asked for Supervising Nurse interview. Figured it would be the usual of "what style of mangement skills I possess." Anything will help since this is the first time I will be interviewing in a correctional facility.

I would appreciate any advise. Thank you.

Hello everyone!

I am looking for some advice on how ace an interview for a LPN job at a county jail! I am a new grad n cant find a job in this economy! I have an interview set up for next week and very nervous! How does an interview go for a nurse at a jail? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED! Im trying to do some homework before the interview

any help will be greatly appreciated!

I recently was interviewing for a job at a state prison in Arizona. HEre are some of my interview questions, and the answers they were looking for:

If you enter a prisoner's cell and find them hanging from the ceiling, what would do? At first I was unsure of the answer as I have no experience in a prison setting. I replied that I would start CPR. They liked this answer, and after further discussion, the correct answer was revealed. The cardinal rule of thumb is that no one dies in prison, and no one is born in prison! After the prisoner is cut down by a CO, assess CAB (circulation, airway, breathing), start CPR, call 911.

What would you do if you were called to a prisoner's cell and found an inmate and a pool of blood? I answered that I would first determine if the blood belonged to the inmate in the cell, and if so, assess for injuries and proceed accordingly. They really like this answer and commented that they have absolutely seen instances where the blood in the cell may have been on the inmate in the cell, but that inmate was ot injured. This is because the injured inmate had left the cell and had to be found.

If you had one inmate with chest pain and one inmate that was bleeding, how would you triage them? I answered that I would determine if the bleeding inmate was severe (like hemmoraging from a stab wound) of something that could wait (simple laceration). Once that is determined, I wouls assess the chest pain to determine if it was true MI chest pain, or simple muscular pain or indigestion. I told them I woule obviously proceed with standard protocol from there.

What are some side effects of psych drugs to look for with inmates? I totally flubbed this question, and I have no idea why, but they were looking for symptoms such as pill rolling, parkensonian like symptoms, and extra pyrimidal symptoms.

Hope this helped!

LorrySchoenlyRNPhD said:
Hi, Gang: I'm collecting a compendium of Interview Questions and best answers for folks prepping for a correctional nursing job interview. 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 (I will also include them on a special section of my blog).

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

Lorry

Luve this dancing guy!

Had an interview yesterday for an Rn position in Ia. They asked me ten qUestions, all very vague. Mostly typical interview questions such as: list strengths/weaknesses, why do you want to work in corrections, what would your current supervisor say about you, how do you deal with stressful situations, how do you create good work environment, how do you respond to an emergent situation when you don't have all of your resources. That's the gist of it! No real clinical questions which surprised me. Also they said I would hear back in the next couple of days so I hope i get it!

So i am a new grad RN and had my second RN interview today at a private prison in AZ. Here are the questions I was asked:

1) Describe your skills, experience, and knowledge to be a correctional health nurse.

2) If an inmate asked you to mail out a letter for him, how would you respond?

3) Have you ever participated in a quality improvement program, how did you participate, and how did it turn out?

4) If you saw a co-worker violate a company policy but did no harm to anyone else, what would you do?

5) If you asked someone in the department to do a task and they did not do it, what would you do?

6) Describe any other skills, experience, or anything else you would like to mention that makes you qualified for the job.

Then here are the questions I asked the interviewer:

1) What kind of security of measures are in place at this facility?

2) Can you explain the daily routine for a nurse?

3) What is the scheduling process?

4) What is the policy on overtime, and is being on-call a requirement for the position?

5) What's next in the hiring process?

So the interview went well however that particular facility is a coveted prison to work at within the company because it's the smoothest, so I'm sure they got lots of applicants. I will find out next week. However, I do have another interview at a detention center next week with the same company. We'll see!

I am interested in a nursing instructor position for the California prison system. Are there any instructors here? What can I expect if I get an interview? I look forward to your responses

I have an interview for a Nursing Supervisor position for a few correctional facilities here in Wisconsin coming up!! I am so excited...I have not done correctional nursing, but have a lot f experience with very violent individuals, as I am a Program Director for high behavioral homes working with DD individuals. I am a Behavior Specialist and QMRP, and have a lot of management experience...Any suggestions, other than the awesome ideas already posted?

Also...forgot to mention. I have a disorderly conduct on my record. Is there any chance I can still get the job? It was 3 years ago.

Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

Idk if its been brought up, so my apologies if this is a double post. But its helpful to know about food allergies. I was asked about it during an interview last week. The rationale: some inmates may try & claim they are allergic to a certain food, but it may just be b/c they do not want to eat what is served.

My questions were, if i can remember them:

1.) CAD/Chest Pain Scenario (MONA, 12Lead EKG-STEMI)

2.) Inmate threat to harm/suicide protocol Scenario

3.) TB info: s/s, screenings, interventions, isolation precautions

4.) Respond to man down (safety safety safety)

5.) Describe how your experience compliments corrections (I had ICU/Clinic experience so i emphasized my abilities to respond to emergencies and think quickly (ICU) as well as my passion for teaching and triage abilities (clinic). I think they just wanted to see what qualities are expected in a correctional RN

There were 2 more, but i forgot them. it was fairly simple. This was a CA facility. They seem to source the questions from a bank.

Thank you all for the information, I think I will be ok--if I can get an interview. Still waiting. Marie

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