Correctional Nursing

[riverotter]

We're so desperate in NY that we take new grads and give them one year of good orientation.  The pay is not the best but it's OK. I'll soon have my 20 in and retire with a pension. That is priceless. I also do love correctional nursing for many reasons, it's different than anything else I've ever done in my life. It can be a challenge sometimes, but what specialty isn't ? I like to tell people, most of the time correctional nursing is low-key, but when things happen, they are always interesting!

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Thank you for your feedback, @riverotter. Congratulations on 20 years!

[QuePasaArrozConPasasRN, ASN]

I started as a new grad RN in a county correctional facility.  When I let some of my family members, instructors, and classmates know my plans, I often received odd looks. Although I have never been to jail myself, I have family members who have and lived in communities where specific populations are overly represented within these settings due to many social disparities and other factors.  This vulnerable population is often overlooked, and for many, this is the only place they will receive medical treatment. 

Correctional medical staff sees lots of interesting medical and psychiatric conditions, and I enjoyed the variety.  It is fascinating, and you need to hone your assessment skills so you are not manipulated; this is very important.  We are continually assessing for our own safety and the inmates' safety.  The risk for suicide is exceptionally high inside correctional facilities, and medical and psychiatric staff need to work together to reduce these risks and treat acute psych issues. 

Another competent is working with correctional officers, which can be complicated at times.  They are the gatekeepers to seeing your patient.  I learned how to advocate for my patients effectively despite getting pushback from staff sometimes, but not always.  We often need to mitigate risk for these facilities, and so they are usually supportive for the most part.  One might encounter a few bad apples, which may make your job harder and not see eye-to-eye with your role inside these facilities, but you are there to do your job and provide healthcare to this population.

Unfortunately, I have found this position is not really respected and that it is often not seen as glamorous a position, like in a hospital.  We really don't get all the necessities sometimes of other types of facilities, but you learn how to make do with what you have on hand.  It takes a particular person to work inside correctional facilities with people from many different walks of life and treat a gambit of conditions.  One needs to develop "thick skin," be non-judgemental, open-minded, and remain professional in your role as a healthcare worker.   

[ppfd, BSN, EMT-P]

Started working in my states only women's prison. 

To go from working one of the states busiest ED's to the prison was a huge shift. As an RN, I do almost nothing. LPN's pass meds, techs handle most everything else. I scan papers and put in "sick calls", make rounds and listen to the same nonsense as in an ED. 

While the money is great, most I've made so far. I don't know how much longer I will do this, no more than a year I'd say. To go from using my hands and brain to office work more or less, not really what I want to be doing. 

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Thank you @QuePasaArrozConPasasRN for your input. Very valuable.

 

[riverotter]

Wow,  QuePasa, Great description though.  PPFD- it's a lot more hands on for nurses in NYS, I think.

I highly recommend Correctional nursing . I am also a Nurse Administrator now. Any new grad nurses or NYS nurses looking for work, I would love to answer any NYS correctionsquestions and steer you into/ through the hiring process!

As far as being respected, I love to tell people where I work. They think I"m so cool and brave, even though I have COs all over and I feel safer than in a regular ED!

[MelodyNelson, LVN]

I have been an LVN in corrections for over 10 years, 11, next month actually!   I LOVE it!  I would never want to do any other kind of nursing!   The pay is excellent, the benefits are superior to any other job around here.   It is a dynamic environment that requires a lot of FAST critical thinking.   We have trauma (at least a couple of times a week in my yard), stabbing, occasional gun shot wounds, seizures, overdoses, infected heroin infected sites, hangings, foreign bodies in people’s colons,  infected tattooed, marbles in the member, you name it!  We got it!    I  feel very safe in my maximum security prison, the officers are top notch, the inmates are for the most part respectful, and everything runs like a well oiled machine.     As a charge nurse in a nursing home and former CNA, I was physically assaulted multiple times, sexually harassed by residents on multiple occasions,  chocked, punched and almost stabbed by a crazy old lady whose daughter thought it would be a great idea to give her mom a huge super pointy pair of scissor because “mom loves to sew”.   Talking about that, NOT dealing with the families of my patients its worth the world’s weight in gold to me!   I cannot even begin to imagine why an LVN would want to work in any other setting.   This type of nursing is definitely not for everyone, but if you are the kind of person that has strong personal and professional boundaries, likes to make money (my first two years, I made over $100,000 each year, and was able to buy and pay off my house), wants to retire one day, and you can sift through the *** manipulative tactics of the inmates, while keeping a fair and consistent attitude, please come on in and welcome to the dark side.   

[QuePasaArrozConPasasRN, ASN]

@riverotter. Thank you, I just noticed some of my typos... ?  oops.  I loved it, too, and hope to return in the future as a provider.  There is a huge misconception regarding safety.  I had a hard time adjusting to working in a community clinic and the field without any backup ? when patient encounters became intense.  Medical staff is never alone in there, and safety is paramount.      

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

You do not have to be CCHP certified to be a correctional nurse, and it is not a continuing education requirement. I have been in the specialty for almost 20 years, and I have never found it to be worth the money to pursue it. I get no pay incentive for it, and my employer doesn't pay for the test. I am well past the point when I do such things for personal satisfaction.

[riverotter]

I did it once for kicks.... but they want you to restest every year. Forget that! I learned a lot studying for it, but no need to give them my money every year.

[TheMoonisMyLantern, ADN, LPN, RN]

Thanks for the article! I have been considering correctional nursing for a very long time. Everyone I know that has done it has loved it. I've worked medical, did psych, currently work geriatrics, but corrections keeps calling to me. I worry that I wouldn't be tough enough though, and that's the main reason I haven't tried it yet. But I do enjoy reading about it!