Correctional nursing isnt for me!

Specialties Correctional

Published

After only 2 weeks of orienting, I discovered Correctional nursing isn't for me. The thought of returning makes my stomach twist in knots. In my 13 years of nursing, I've never gotten into my car after a shift and cried like a baby. I don't wanna leave so soon after only 2 weeks, even tried to communicate with ADON to decrease my time to ( 2 days a week, until I can find another job) she hasn't returned my call. Totally at a lost of what to do because I had so many hopes for this job but I guess the saying is, you either like it or you don't and yes the money and benefits were good but NOT worth my Sanity. Back to job hunting I go, pray for for me please nurse family?

Specializes in LTC (LPN-RN).

I hear home health is quite stressful due to the amount of overtime you do and admissions. A friend of mind made 50/hr in corrections as a traveler but no longer does it due to the stress. Your complaint is just the dismal employees. When someone is used to a certain environment, dealing with gloom all day is very tough.

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Anyone worked temp at Soledad prison for R. L. Klein? What was it like? Get lots of hours?

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Anyone worked temp at Soledad prison for R. L. Klein? What was it like? Get lots of hours?

It's my 3rd week of orientation this Monday.I am assigned to orient in the ER as of this time.I can say, so far, so good.there is never a dull moment.I dnt know if it's just me but it's actually not that stressfull.Inmates are respectful but of course you still have to remind yourself that these are convicted criminals so just be safe.Officers are everywhere so I can say it's safe.So far, the nurses I met are all helpful.They will teach you the things you need to learn.Just dnt be shy to ask.

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I worked in corrections for almost my whole nursing career,but since graduating from Excelsior and becoming an RN I only do prn. I loved it because it was something different every day. We lost the new nurses fairly quick but those who stayed for some time. It is fast pace and u have to find a rhythm, I did insulin to over 30 inmates in maybe a half hour, when I floated to an unfamilar unit or med pass I would make a loud but friendly announcement. Hi guys I'm not familiar with this so just bear with me, and generally they would be patient. I still remember ,1 inmate when I was a new nurse, Ms. Erika its clear before cloudy be careful u have our lives in ur hands. Stick it out u might like it

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"trust in the lord"

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I worked ICU, psychiatry and corrections. I had 2 days of orientation in which I picked up the routine fairly quick. XYZ needs to be done at this time and any unexpected events that we responded to needed to be done, times segment was key; However, my frustration came in with lazy nurses, resistance to officers and poor communication. It may differ between facilities, though I hear that it's similar across the board. For county correctional facilities I find that it is about the money as well. We pay for inmates healthcare i.e meds, Dr.appts, ED visits in which management and providers get their ass chewed out if we send someone to the Hospital if admission is not granted. Therefore, if someone needs to go to the Hospital, the Provider is reluctant to give orders to send them out. Catch 22, if I don't send them out I jeopardize my license and if I do against the Prividers order I jeopardize my license.

I send patients out against the providers order if in my gut, I know something is wrong and I'm 7/8. Not too bad. Anyway, I know the frustration. I'm still PRN and there's certain Nurses I trust and nurses that I have to double and triple check when I'm working. Corrections is my least enjoyable job but my patients are my only concern criminals are not.

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
I send patients out against the providers order if in my gut, I know something is wrong and I'm 7/8. Not too bad.

A nurse in my agency would be instantly terminated for sending an inmate out against a provider order. Simply put, that isn't your call.

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@Orca, I have been in this situation a few times. A person who u know is dying, there going out 911. Screw a job, I need my license and I have aconscious. The few times I had to do it, it was a critical situation, I didn't know what was wrong, only that the person was really sick!

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

I find it interesting that people who talk about preserving their licenses have no problem with overriding a physician order.

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One thing I have learned since discovering Allnurses years ago, while in nursing school. Is that different medical facilities all over the U.S have different and varied practices. It does not make anyone else's practice right or wrong, just a different way of doing things. U have worked in a few different correctional settings, that have followed a variety of protocols. Yes, generally you needed a physician order to send inmates to the hospital, but at 3 am, we often did not receive calls back from providers. If I had a patient that was not breathing and had turned blue, and the physician had not called back in over 20 minutes, I thinnk anyone would call 911. I think any RN learned enough in nursing school, to know when a pt was dying in front of them. Different protocols are not right or wrong, just another policy that was put in place. If everything was the same at every job, then we would not come to Allnurses, to read and learn from our fellow nurses.

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Well from experience, the MD is not there to know what is actually happening. Furthermore, I had an experience when a patient clearly was septic from a ulcer that perforated manifested from his board like abdomen and absent bowel sound, hypotension and tachycrdia, the dr still refused to send him out. I knew in my gut that he was septic and internally hemorrhagin, and I documented EVERYTHING. Well needless to say tge patient went to cardiac arrest on me the next day. I got him back but he lost so much blood that he was brain dead manifested by his blown pupils.

The Dr. Said I never called him. Thank God I documented; however, how could I sleep at night knowing I could have done something. The BON can also get you for negligence . I'm not big headed but I have learned to trust my judgement. I'm not to blow things out of proportion; thus, respect when I call. Nonetheless, I'm 7/8. Sue me

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Yes that's what usually happens in a correctuons, something bad happens blame the nurse. During the day its usually ok, but once the providers leave its allon tthe nurse. We had a death a few years ago at my facility, so that's why we got the ok to send pt out. It all comes down to money,

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