My life as a Correctional Nurse

Correctional Nursing is a very hard job! It is normal to catch up on the local news correct? But how do you watch the news, listen to these heinous crimes, Murderers, Kidnappers, RAPE, Robbery, BABY KILLERS, CHILD ABUSERS, etc and then have them sit in front of you at your mercy for care? Nurses Announcements Archive Article

One of my main goals each night that I work as a Correctional nurse is personal safety. Unlike the traditional healthcare setting, there are many types of people you come in contact with. For instance, jails and prisons are full of angry people with poor impulse control. As the nurse, my demeanor will determine the outcome of each and every encounter when providing care.

My first thought when in contact of an angry Inmate is how can I treat him/her and keep any additional anger from developing. Aggressive responses to an angry patient can be risky, and never a first choice. Aggressive responses are arrogant and make the patient feel insecure. Preventing anger from escalating to violence is a primary tool to increase personal safety in this setting.

Correctional Nursing is a very hard job! It is normal to catch up on the local news correct? But how do you watch the news, listen to these heinous crimes, Murderers, Kidnappers, RAPE, Robbery, BABY KILLERS, CHILD ABUSERS, etc and then have them sit in front of you at your mercy for care?

My night consists of cleaning their wounds... gunshot wounds, stab wounds, Medicating their pain, and providing continuous care. Several Inmates that come in are drug and alcohol users that I have to monitor for withdrawals. As the inmates come into the jail it saddens me to see the tears and fears on so many different faces, of all walks of life. And then its the Emergencies that you are called upon....having to SAVE THEIR LIVES?

Meanwhile, in the mist of it all, I have to focus on the patient and try not to judge them! In my mind, "I remember this man, he is the one that killed his family, abused his child, raped that poor woman, robbed the elderly, shot that police officer! this is him!" meanwhile he is crying for Help!!! looking into MY eyes! and what do I do? I HELP.....every time! I pray and I help! Meanwhile asking GOD to HELP ME... help him!!!

If you get too involved its called FRATERNIZATION, and you will loose your job. If you are too HARD on the Inmates you are looked upon as being non sympathetic. The only way I get through my 12.5 hour nights it is the love of GOD...

This one night I was placed in a position where I helped save a life! It was a very rewarding experience and I would do it again! To this day when I see this inmate, I can't remember his charges, I only remember seeing his eyes focused on my eyes while he was in distress. And the remembrance of his sincerity, thanking me after his return from the hospital. Everyday I walk into this correctional facility I pray and remind myself I AM NOT THE JUDGE! I LET GOD... AND LET GO of any feelings of his/her accused crime. Although my job is very mentally challenging, I do love my job as a correctional nurse. And I know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose..

Thank you for your post. I have applied for a position at a Jail and have an interview on Friday. I am looking forward to my first job as an RN and I found your post inspirational.

Thank you!

I don't even think of what inmates have done when caring for them. I've been having to do wound care on a patient who (allegefly) killed his girlfriend then slit his wrists. He's one of the nicest guys.

The sex crimes cell blocks are often the most nice and pleasant ones.

I work for Armor correctional health services and they are so terribly managed. I love my job just not the people I work for.

I don't let my care be affected by the offenders' crimes either. I learned to block it out and just do my job--I frequently know what they're in prison for, but I really don't care.

That being said, I find the sex offenders really friendly, too! Unfortunately, I have to keep in mind that these guys have frequently used their "friendliness" to draw in children or young adolescents (we have a lot of child-molesters at the medium-security facility where I work--they tend to be non-violent)--and they are probably manipulating me the same way. And the mild-mannered guys may be quite different on the outside, where they can get drunk or high or immersed in violent lifestyles(gangbanger or pimp). Basically, I just try to keep in mind that they are probably trying to put their best face forward around the nurses, and maybe aren't really as nice as they seem--they could turn on me at any time. I know that's cynical, but look at the guys who recently escaped from the honor block of their institution--they had been model prisoners for decades, then suddenly effected an escape, with the help of a (of course) nurse. You just never know.