Insight please

Specialties Correctional

Published

I have been an RN since 2005. I have worked in home care, acute care, and long term acute care. Looking to go into correctional nursing. Either in PA or DE. Not sure if I want to work a dayshift or night shift position. Wondering how it is on both shifts, how it would be for me without correctional nursing experience. How salary would range. I have a little girl in 2nd grade, so might be leaning towards a day position. Any insight would be awesome.

Okay, first let me welcome you to corrections! You just asked a lot of stuff, and I will try to touch on it all as briefly as possible...

I have worked in several jails/ institutions, and they all vary as to what to expect day vs night as far as responsiblities. I work nights but have done days as well. Day shift is lould and busy, lots of providers seeing lots of inmates, but also you have the most help, nurses and support staff to help guide you. Night shift is a different animal all together, usually a small crew if not you by yourself, no docs no help, so you have a lot put on you. As far as the no experience thing goes, I have trained many people over the years and one thing rings true...you either love it or hate it, not much middle ground in this field. So if you hate it after the first couple of weeks, chances are you might not ever like it. You sound like you have plenty of experience as a nurse, so the only thing you will have to learn is how to deal with inmates. That is usually the make or break issue. A small bit of advice: be firm, fair, and consistant in all of your actions and interactions with inmates. Read the essay called "downing a duck" (search it on google it will come up) that will tell you a bit about what to expect as far as worst case stuff with pit falls for people. Salary where I am is about the same as the ER. OK have to run hope this helps feel free to message me with any questions.

mike

Thank you so much.

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