Correctional nursing hmmmm....

Blackcat99 · Jun 4, 2005

Hey guys, I have been an LPN for about a year now. Before this I was a CNA for 3 years in a LTC and I currently work there as an LPN. Anyways I am looking for something a little different and I was considering correctional nursing. A local female prison is hiring and pay relatively well for this area. The main thing I am concerned about is having to detach myself emotionally from my work. Working in a LTC has made me very compassionate about nursing and I love getting to know my patients and getting close to them, I like the family enviroment, but I am thinking that in a prison setting you'd have to be very cold and detached and I'm not sure I would like that. Is this how you have to be? or is it just me stereotyping? Also what are some perks and some downfalls to this field? Thanks! :)

I have worked correctional and LTC and correctional is much better. However, you do need to be somewhat detached. Unfortunately, in prison society if any person is very loving and extremely compassionate the inmates think that person is "weak" and will try to take advantage. The nice thing about correctional nursing is that you don't have to lift heavy patients. The inmates usually come to you for their pills. You don't have to run around trying to find them. You don't have to deal with family members and their complaints.Correctional nursing-nurses either love it or hate it. Hope you will give it a try. :)

graybar hilton · Jun 7, 2005

Hey guys, I have been an LPN for about a year now. Before this I was a CNA for 3 years in a LTC and I currently work there as an LPN. Anyways I am looking for something a little different and I was considering correctional nursing. A local female prison is hiring and pay relatively well for this area. The main thing I am concerned about is having to detach myself emotionally from my work. Working in a LTC has made me very compassionate about nursing and I love getting to know my patients and getting close to them, I like the family enviroment, but I am thinking that in a prison setting you'd have to be very cold and detached and I'm not sure I would like that. Is this how you have to be? or is it just me stereotyping? Also what are some perks and some downfalls to this field? Thanks! :)

Ok....here is the deal. Yes, you need to lose 'nancy nurse'. Inmates are manipulative and can get you in terrible trouble if you try to be their friend. After 8 years in the joint my motto is " timely, appropriate, and professional health care always". I maintain a respectful attitude, and treat them like human beings, otherwise I do my 8 and hit the gate. I love corrections, and am just now going back to it after a 2 year break. I have pined for it, and missed it very very much. Your assessment skills will be challenged each and every day in a 1000 different ways.......revel in the challenges. The autonomy will keep you on your toes. Watch out for the officers (guards) too. they can be worse than the inmates. Hope all goes well for you.

Regards,

Gray Bar Hilton

ARNPsomeday · Jun 7, 2005

Ok....here is the deal. Yes, you need to lose 'nancy nurse'. Inmates are manipulative and can get you in terrible trouble if you try to be their friend. After 8 years in the joint my motto is " timely, appropriate, and professional health care always". I maintain a respectful attitude, and treat them like human beings, otherwise I do my 8 and hit the gate. I love corrections, and am just now going back to it after a 2 year break. I have pined for it, and missed it very very much. Your assessment skills will be challenged each and every day in a 1000 different ways.......revel in the challenges. The autonomy will keep you on your toes. Watch out for the officers (guards) too. they can be worse than the inmates. Hope all goes well for you.
Regards,
Gray Bar Hilton

I'm a student nurse. In my previous job as a professional with the court system, I worked around many "levels" of criminals, from drunk drivers to murderers so I have an idea about how manipulative they can be.

Could you talk about what you recommend we should watch regarding COs? Guess we were lucky, but they never gave us any problems. It was always the inmates.

Thanks! :)

psychonurse · Jun 8, 2005

Well sometimes they can be worse than the inmates...I have seen them call me up and say "Oh they have this terrible cut on their leg" and they get to medical and its a paper cut or they have a bucket of blood in their shoe and they have quit bleeding a long time ago. Or if the inmate keeps going to them and telling them that they have to get to medical so to keep the inmates off their leg they will call the nurses and insist that they be seen.

The officers always call us "chocolate hearts" but some times they are the absolute worst about calling us wanting the inmates to be seen...

ARNPsomeday · Jun 8, 2005

Well sometimes they can be worse than the inmates...I have seen them call me up and say "Oh they have this terrible cut on their leg" and they get to medical and its a paper cut or they have a bucket of blood in their shoe and they have quit bleeding a long time ago. Or if the inmate keeps going to them and telling them that they have to get to medical so to keep the inmates off their leg they will call the nurses and insist that they be seen.
The officers always call us "chocolate hearts" but some times they are the absolute worst about calling us wanting the inmates to be seen...

Oh, I get it. You mean the COs can be soft-hearted. I thought you meant they could be like a danger to you as a nurse. Guess I'm a little bit slow. Thanks, psychonurse.

Salty1 · Jun 8, 2005

Oh, I get it. You mean the COs can be soft-hearted. I thought you meant they could be like a danger to you as a nurse. Guess I'm a little bit slow. Thanks, psychonurse.

I would think it is not because the COs are soft-hearted. Rather, they are acting in a manner under the doctrine of CYA. The COs, quite properly, want to keep everything on their cell-block quiet and under control. If the inmate is "kvetching" about a minor medical problem and blowing it out of all proportion to reality the CO will simply shift the problem over to the medical department. Otherwise, the inmate may agitate his fellow prisoners, complain to the ombudsman about the COs refusal to provide medical attention, etc., etc. The inmates are expert at "working" the system.

Salty

NiceNurse · Jun 12, 2005

Hi,

I am relatively new at correctional nursing myself, and I have had three occasions where the guards have left me alone with inmates. They have actually left the clinic and gone outside and down the hallway. I was not comfortable at all. Has this happened to anyone else?

Hey guys, I have been an LPN for about a year now. Before this I was a CNA for 3 years in a LTC and I currently work there as an LPN. Anyways I am looking for something a little different and I was considering correctional nursing. A local female prison is hiring and pay relatively well for this area. The main thing I am concerned about is having to detach myself emotionally from my work. Working in a LTC has made me very compassionate about nursing and I love getting to know my patients and getting close to them, I like the family enviroment, but I am thinking that in a prison setting you'd have to be very cold and detached and I'm not sure I would like that. Is this how you have to be? or is it just me stereotyping? Also what are some perks and some downfalls to this field? Thanks! :)

jamangel · Jun 12, 2005

Hey guys, I have been an LPN for about a year now. Before this I was a CNA for 3 years in a LTC and I currently work there as an LPN. Anyways I am looking for something a little different and I was considering correctional nursing. A local female prison is hiring and pay relatively well for this area. The main thing I am concerned about is having to detach myself emotionally from my work. Working in a LTC has made me very compassionate about nursing and I love getting to know my patients and getting close to them, I like the family enviroment, but I am thinking that in a prison setting you'd have to be very cold and detached and I'm not sure I would like that. Is this how you have to be? or is it just me stereotyping? Also what are some perks and some downfalls to this field? Thanks! :)

I've worked in the jail and prison system. In my experience you do have to be guarded emotionally. I didn't become a hard nose though. Remember that medical and security have two different positions where inmates are concerned. It is true that some inmates are manipulative and WILL try to take advantage of you, they are people and it is not your job to judge. Working in the jail system is a reminder that people remember how you treat them. Unlike prison where you may or may not ever see them once they are released (or you leave), in the jail you see these people (in Target, WalMart, the mall etc..)if they don't get prison time or are found not guilty. Also some people don't like depending on someone to let them through doors. Also if you don't desire to work with HIV patients (many of my nursing friends don't like it), corrections is full of it. Overall I liked it and the work is alot easier. The pay is only fair in Georgia. I only quit because my husband asked me to. I may go back later in my career. :rolleyes:

jamangel · Jun 12, 2005

Well sometimes they can be worse than the inmates...I have seen them call me up and say "Oh they have this terrible cut on their leg" and they get to medical and its a paper cut or they have a bucket of blood in their shoe and they have quit bleeding a long time ago. Or if the inmate keeps going to them and telling them that they have to get to medical so to keep the inmates off their leg they will call the nurses and insist that they be seen.
The officers always call us "chocolate hearts" but some times they are the absolute worst about calling us wanting the inmates to be seen...

You said it all. I totally agree. When there is indeed an emergency, it takes forever to get the inmate seen

jamangel · Jun 12, 2005

Hi,
I am relatively new at correctional nursing myself, and I have had three occasions where the guards have left me alone with inmates. They have actually left the clinic and gone outside and down the hallway. I was not comfortable at all. Has this happened to anyone else?

This has definitely happened to me.

Blackcat99 · Jun 12, 2005

Yes this has happened to me on several occasions. They would send me the diabetics-There would be between 8-10 male diabetic inmates and they would "forget" to send a CO with them. I did not appreciate it. :angryfire