Correctional Nursing with Criminal Record?

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I tried to look for an answer to this question, but wasn't able to find anything. I've been trying to pursue career opportunities with the Florida DOC as a RN, but haven't been able to find anything at all. I do have a juvenile record, but no other blemishes on my record; my RN license also has no stipulations on it.

My question for those in the know is, is it possible for me to land a job in correctional nursing? If so, what should I be doing to further that goal?

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

It may depend upon how extensive your record is, and what you were convicted of. Correctional agencies generally don't pay a lot of attention to juvenile records unless they involved violent crimes or drug offenses. Having a criminal record isn't an absolute exclusion, but it can make the path to employment more challenging, particularly in corrections.

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It may depend upon how extensive your record is, and what you were convicted of. Correctional agencies generally don't pay a lot of attention to juvenile records unless they involved violent crimes or drug offenses. Having a criminal record isn't an absolute exclusion, but it can make the path to employment more challenging, particularly in corrections.

Thanks, the juvenile adjudication was for arson (nobody hurt, about $10k in property damage which I repaid in full); nothing else on the juvenile record, adult record is completely clean, and the juvenile adjudication occurred 11 years ago. I also just found out that the Florida DOC is now outsourcing all of its healthcare needs through private vendors, so I'm going to have to apply through them.

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Specializes in retired from healthcare.

If you worked through the problems that brought you a criminal record then this might make you valuable as a correctional nurse.

They might be able to learn from someone with a criminal history about finding a pathway out.

I notice there are nurses and therapists with histories of their own mental breakdowns who are good with mental patients.

I hope the same thing might be true here.

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Look up a local prison staffing place, and ask them flat out- from what I've been told personally, working jails/prisons is different, because the population (the patients) are not 'at risk', such as the elderly or children, so convictions that would prevent a hiring in the private sector are approached in a different view, partially because prisons are exploding, and finding willing nursing staff is not keeping pace.

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