Correctional Nursing-Last Stop For Nurses who can't make it anywhere else

Aurora · Jan 19, 2004

Supplemental out of NY or Fresno. I hear that Favorite Nurses has travel correctional. I am working locum tenens through NMR in San Clemente -- don't really like this arrangement, though.

Supplemental -Fresno: 1-866-268-2411

NMR-1-800-451-7811 x 119 Christy

threepercenthero · Feb 22, 2004

what type of pay scale and benefits are there in federal correctional nursing?.

I'm really sorry about your experience as a Correctional Nurse. My question is: were you employed by a county, state or federal facility? It makes a difference. I am employed by a federal prison. The work conditions in our medical department are more sanitary than a hospital's, the pay and benefits are a lot better, and the quality of healthcare professionals? Top notch. I work with highly educated, experienced health professionals. I worked as a Licensed Paramedic for four years, the ER as a RN for one year. I have two degrees. Working in a federal prison for over three years, I have to adhere to the state nurse practice act and federal regulations, policy and procedures. I went through an extensive background check. Had to train at a federal law enforcement academy for three weeks. I train once a year in self-defense and I have to qualify with a M-16 assault rifle, 9mm handgun, and a 12 gauge shotgun every year. I must know my job and the correctional officer's job. Our department has received a "superior rating" with Joint Commission the past three reviews. I can hold my own in the ER, on the ambulance or in prison. I'm sorry: the comment on the type of nurses that work there are greatly false. Those kind of nurses are everywhere. NOT just corrections. P.S. Orca hit the nail on the head.

susan18 · Mar 6, 2004

Reading the following book will help explain where much of this pointless negativity comes from, namely successful inmate manipulation of staff:
"Games Criminals Play: How You Can Profit by Knowing Them
by Bud Allen & Diana Bosta "

Reply to sjoe: That book is great! I recommend it to al my new hires as a nurse educator in a large state prison for women. We do have to remember where we work, and that this group is not your community hospital patient,at all!- susan18 :)

susan18 · Mar 6, 2004

A few.
1. Don't believe everything you are told by an inmate about physical symptoms. Many will exaggerate their symptoms, or fabricate them entirely, just to get out of their cells or to get some extra attention. These guys aren't doing time for being honest and on-the-level. Your assessment skills will be put to maximum use sorting out the game-players from the legitimate issues.
2. Unlearn much of what you have learned about the delivery of care. In this environment, the patient is expected to take a degree of responsibility. Run and fetch for them, as we are conditioned to do in hospitals, and they will have you tied in knots. Excessive attention marks you as a person easy to manipulate.
3. Don't "bend the rules". While you don't have to be rigid and inflexible, being firm pays large dividends. You won't become compromised profesionally, and in their own convoluted way, inmates will respect you for it.
4. Lighten the atmosphere with humor in appropriate spots. I have always used humor in my practice, and the environment these guys live in is serious enough on its own. I have defused a number of potentially tense situations with proper use of humor.
5. Don't take everything inmates tell you about conflicts with staff literally. Inmates often try to cultivate a sympathetic ear by telling a drawn-out story about how they have been wronged or brutalized by a particular staff member. They are counting on your caring instincts, and your obligation as a patient advocate, to pull you to their side. This is how a lot of compromising situations start. Remember that they are inmates, and many are master manipulators. They are usually not telling the entire truth about such matters. Prison is a violent and serious environment, and conflicts must necessarily be dealt with swiftly by security staff. Force is often necessary to prevent harm to life and property.
None of this is meant to scare you. It is a very different specialty from anything else I have done, and it is challenging. I often have to make calls on delivery of treatment based upon a conversation with someone with little or no medical knowledge, and I often have to make decisions without the benefit of a physician's input (although they are available if I need them). I have a lot of latitude in what I do, and hospitals just can't compete.

Orca: Loved those tips. I agree completely. I try to help my new nurses at our state prison with sharing things like this. You couldn't have said it better! Thanks....

tazpint · Mar 8, 2004

Right on girl!!!

erroridiot · Mar 11, 2004

correctional nurses were "less than perfect nurses". I must admit, at least in my experience, truer words have rarely been written. Some of the worst nurses I have ever seen have been correctional nurses.

You are correct.

Some of the best nurses I have ever seen have been correctional nurses.

I am correct.

There are different degrees of workplace health in all aspects of nursing. Unfortunately, the correctional setting can bring out the less desireable traits in some individual nurses or groups of nurses which in turn attracts like-minded individuals. Correctional settings do exist which have higher functioning nurses which follow and value the ANA Code of Ethics for Correctional Nurses. These settings tend to attract like-minded individuals.

For those nurses who wish to provide health care for an underserved, neglected, high risk population and make a difference, a healthy group of co-workers can be difficult to find in corrections.

abarlowe · Mar 16, 2004

Nursing is very multidynamic. I can not stay in any one area because I want experience in everything, and not get bored or burned out. I did corrections as my first nursing job 7 years ago, and it was exciting and challenging. I eventually left after almost 2 years, because I did want clinical experience. I worked with nurses who retired from other settings and came back to a more laid back, not so overwhelming setting as well as a couple of other new grads who basically only knew nursing theory like me. Everyone had reasons to be there, just as in clinical areas. But the last time I checked, all of the nurses I worked with had a license, so basic skills were there. My point is not every nurse cuts it in the "shit and git" areas, and let's face it, with the current shortages the nurse to patient ratios are so high, not every nurse can take much from clinical settings except headaches. Now I travel and get a break every 13 weeks. Everyone should try it!

Jailhouse RN · Apr 4, 2004

ceturn has alot to learn about nursing in general. She should say nothing about Corrections nurses untill she gets dry behind the ears. As a nurse have worked the ER, ICCU, CT-stepdown, telemetry, addiction med, and home care. Working in corrections I have had to use the skills from each and every one of these positions to do my job. There are times when I have had to depend on fellow nurses and security to get a job done. If its one thing we know in Corrections, it is team work. We don't put people down because of a percieved weakness. We help them as they have helped us. ceturn you have much to learn. Incompetence is not tolerated in our profession. What you could learn from us Corrections nurses may one day save not only your life but your license.

uraqt2 · Mar 31, 2007

What an insult to all correctional nurses. Ya know correctional nursing is NOT for everyone and it seems to me that you are making a great choice by getting out and going back to the ER.

nancykday · Apr 1, 2007

Sounds like ceturn got caught up in a scam, due to their obvious feelings of superiority, the inates probably exploited this and he/she got burnt. Burnt an burned out...well glad your leaving corrections, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Or a former inmate with an ax to grind

VegRN · Apr 1, 2007

Reading the following book will help explain where much of this pointless negativity comes from, namely successful inmate manipulation of staff:
"Games Criminals Play: How You Can Profit by Knowing Them
by Bud Allen & Diana Bosta "

This is such an excellent book and I also heard about it here. I recommend it to other nurses all the time.

Orca, excellent comments about correctional nursing, could not agree more.

I also loved the comment that another poster made about hospital nursing and pts being upset that it took you 10 minutes to get a cup of tea for them (while you were in the next room saving a life). This is one of the many reasons why I love correctional nursing. Most of the outside people wouldn't believe it, and this is from observations at my institution but, in corrections, disrespect towards nurses isn't tolerated. The inmates can't order you around, swear at you, etc because they are actually punished for it. And for the most part inmates respect the nurses because they know that we are here to help them (and they want something from us). We still have to have good boundaries and bulls*** detectors though.

Ion · Apr 4, 2007

There is a new face of correctional nursing. We have good people coming in and I have noticed a couple trends:

1. Young male nurses are entering to begin earning a government backed retirement at an early age, and government healthcare insurance for their families. About half of them are prior military who plan on buying credit for their military service.

2. Seasoned female nurses who have worked for several years in hospitals who are great nurses, but are looking for a way to extend their careers without moving into management.

Just an observation, not a research project