Correctional Nursing as a New Grad

[Chibi-chan]

Hello everyone! I'm currently a student nurse due to graduate in May. I've been researching what areas I would like to work in after I am licensed. My instructors are all big on going on to a traditional Med-Surg floor, but I'd like to do something different. Forensic nursing, SANE, etc. have all interested me greatly, and I think I would really like to apply for a position available at Leavenworth Prison in Kansas (since I live close anyway.) I am hoping that some of you who work in Corrections would be able to give me some information about working as a Corrections nurse, what it's like, and tips for my application. Thanks!

[lynds80]

I hear what you are saying Orca in your post. The sad thing is as a New Grad the only people that have responded with a possibility for a position are the correctional jobs for me. I would love to work med/surg for a year. I loved it in school-you learn so much on that floor. I get so many rejection responses from hospitals it's almost funny now. I just want to work as a RN, in some capacity, and actually the correctional aspect is more appealing than a hospital-that might seem weird, but just how I feel.[/quote']

I agree! I'm interested in doing correctional/psych/forensics I cannot ever imagine myself doing beside nursing on a med surg floor. I did that for about 2 months hated it. Ad the hospitals have a lot of politics as well. I like freedom/autonomy the correctional nursing has.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

I fully understand the realities of the job market. All of us, at one time or another, have taken jobs that we knew wouldn't be right for us (mine was long term care). Best of luck to all of you. If you run into anything you are struggling with, I will try to help.

[wyogypsy, RN]

If you are an RN, you will be doing a lot of assessments (or have the potential to do assessments) at sick call, infirmary, emergencies. I believe you should have at least two years of med/surg before being an RN in an prison. Nurses have a lot of autonomy, there is not always a provider onsite so you have to make good judgment calls, and even though they are inmates they deserve to have you do an accurate assessment. If you are not a good nurse, the word will get out, trust me. You want to be the nurse that they can count on to give medically sound nursing care, and there is so much more than what we learn in school. There is also the fact that inmates like to sue over everything, you want to know enough to give good care in what you do know; and know enough to ask for help when you don't know.

Corrections is a great career and it will still be there when you get done with med/surg, so take your time and give yourself a good base.