Correctional nursing similar to military sick call?

[91W]

Hi there, Just wondering if working in the prisons is similar to morning sick call in the military. I just got out of the army as a medic for 7 years. I know the morning sick call routine where you check the guys to see who is bs'ing to get out of work and who has real problems. I am going into a BSN program in fresno pretty soon and was considering working at one of the state prisons, the pay is good and looks like it might be same kind of scenario, who knows maybe I have a nack for sick call in prisons already from my army experience. I'd apprecaite any info on the matter!

[military spouse]

Hi,

I believe the dispensary has some similarities to what you are describing. Where I work, sick calls are generally done in the afternoons after treatments are completed. Treatments usually take about 4 hours each shift here. They can consist of IV med, dressing changes, EKGs, vital signs, etc. The dispensary nurse generally takes care of treatments, sick calls, inmate physicals, doc orders, etc.

I work in the infirmary which is basically a med/surg unit.

[Shell3]

I used to work in a troop clinic on an Army post and now I work in corrections. There is a definite sameness between the two. When someone has to be evaluated by a nurse or medic or doctor to get out of work or details and can't just "call in sick" you'll find a great deal of bs'ing. Soldiers and inmates don't have the option of deciding for themselves if they are sick enough to "stay home". With your experience you would probably do very well in a correctional setting. There are rules, chain of commands and a definite feel of "someone else is in charge of my life" (whether they volunteered for service or were volunteered by the court system.) I believe that my experience working for the Army helped me adjust to the correctional setting.

[91W]

Are you able to pursue further RN education through the correctional system. Would it be possible to do an online NP program or, would you have to quit to do graduate school. Just curious.

thanks