why is the corrections facility hiring so much?

entropysister · Apr 5, 2011

I work in a state prison and I rarely worry about getting raped or killed. You are never without an officer, alarm, whistle. The inmates are generally respectful and appreciative of the care you give them. It is rare for someone to be attacked physically. As a nurse your job is not security as that is the realm of the officers. I actually feel safer then in a hospital where patients can be violent and backup is slow in coming. The burnout occurs because the bureaucracy is demanding, technology outdated, and policies change daily. I am pretty happy with my job and feel I am getting excellent experience as a new nurse. As for treating child molesters, you do not read the c files of the inmates so generally you don't know what the crimes are. In the end you could be treating a child molester in a regular hospital. Who know the history of each person and why should that change the type of care you deliver as a nurse?

hchristian · Apr 9, 2011

High Turnover is a big issue at my unit. As a matter of fact, I am leaving corrections soon due to the environment. I work at a Maximum secrity prison in arkansas and I don't like it at all. The inmates treat you like pieces of meat and talk horrible to you...among other things. I'm going back to Long term care...

bonesrn · Apr 11, 2011

I am in NC and the prison is building brand new medical facilities. I think the work would be interesting and a challange! A lot fo RN's I talk to love it! The pay and benefits are great. As far as treating someone I know is a child molester, or murderer? We treat them at the large university hospitals now, and I can't not treat them just because I don't like them or what they do. Unfortunately, with the closing of many inpatient and outpatient psych facilities and resources, we are seeing more and more patients in the acute care setting who have the same issues as those who are locked up. It's sad.

If anyone is currently working or considering working in the Central Prison system in Raleigh, NC, I'd love to talk to you!

Nurseynurse2011 · Nov 15, 2011

I am in NC and the prison is building brand new medical facilities. I think the work would be interesting and a challange! A lot fo RN's I talk to love it! The pay and benefits are great. As far as treating someone I know is a child molester, or murderer? We treat them at the large university hospitals now, and I can't not treat them just because I don't like them or what they do. Unfortunately, with the closing of many inpatient and outpatient psych facilities and resources, we are seeing more and more patients in the acute care setting who have the same issues as those who are locked up. It's sad.
If anyone is currently working or considering working in the Central Prison system in Raleigh, NC, I'd love to talk to you!

Hey bonesrn,

I am considering workin at the women's prison in Raleigh as a new grad. I applied to central prison but only the women's prison has contacted me so far. Do you know if it's a good place to work?

andreopolys · Apr 27, 2013

Hi, I will be graduating soon from nursing school, and I am very interested in working as a correctional facility RN. Can anyone provide information about the the best state facilities to work in California? Thank you.

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Nov 4, 2013

Thanks Everyone! Interesting post. I still cant understand why more people dont want to go to the prison.
BTW I did not get the job Feel like Im the only one who is banging on the prison doors to get in lol

As a new LPN grad I've applied to a couple of corrections openings. I do have a background in security and training in PCI as well. No callbacks yet :no: So I suppose for me corrections isn't going to be any easier to get into than anywhere else. I am entirely open to working in a correctional facility, if I am asked to sign on......

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Nov 4, 2013

I am a DON for the Department of Corrections in a western state. We don't have a lot of turnover. Two of the last three vacancies that have occurred on my staff have been due to LPNs completing an RN program and advancing. They took RN jobs within the DOC, but at another facility. I have not had an RN opening in quite some time, and the last one was due to a retirement.

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Nov 4, 2013

I am a DON for the Department of Corrections in a western state. We don't have a lot of turnover. Two of the last three vacancies that have occurred on my staff have been due to LPNs completing an RN program and advancing. They took RN jobs within the DOC, but at another facility. I have not had an RN opening in quite some time, and the last one was due to a retirement.

I am in Arizona, and I don't think there's a lot of turnover here either - I really don't see too many new openings, not anymore than anyone else really. Corrections facilities here in AZ are actually run by private corrections companies, so you would not be working for the state or the county, like you would be in many other states. It's all privatized here. I don't know if that's a good deal or a bad deal for nurses or not. You have to apply to the companies who have the contracts for running the prisons/jails, which I have done.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Nov 4, 2013

I just started at a detention center in Texas. All the people there are fairly new. The oldest person there has been there for 2 years. Even the HSA is new & we don't have a DON right now. It is really stressful right now because we're so short staffed & everyone is working in overtime. Plus there is SO much paperwork. I have never seen so much paperwork before in my life, it's ridiculous. I wish they did it on the computer so it would cut down on the redundant-ness. I really hope I get into the nursing program so I get out of there. It's crazy! I've worked in corrections before but it was NOTHING like it is where I work now. Oh I had one full week of "orientation" (I barely had orientation because the woman training me was super busy & barely had time to do so) last week & will only be at work Wednesday & Thursday due to my schedule then I'm on my own. Yeah, great. :-/

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Nov 4, 2013

I just started at a detention center in Texas. All the people there are fairly new. The oldest person there has been there for 2 years. Even the HSA is new & we don't have a DON right now. It is really stressful right now because we're so short staffed & everyone is working in overtime. Plus there is SO much paperwork. I have never seen so much paperwork before in my life, it's ridiculous. I wish they did it on the computer so it would cut down on the redundant-ness. I really hope I get into the nursing program so I get out of there. It's crazy! I've worked in corrections before but it was NOTHING like it is where I work now. Oh I had one full week of "orientation" (I barely had orientation because the woman training me was super busy & barely had time to do so) last week & will only be at work Wednesday & Thursday due to my schedule then I'm on my own. Yeah, great. :-/

You have a nursing job though. I would love nothing more than to be stressed out over an LPN job, even in a correctional facility. The job I have now is plenty stressful, with lots of hard work and little time to do it in, but it doesn't pay anywhere near what a nurse of any type makes

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Nov 4, 2013

Well I commented because they OP asked why there was so much turn over. That is my reason. It's super stressful because there are just a handful of people working during days. Two nurses, 2-3 MAs & on nights it's worse. 1 nurse & sometimes 1 MA. I wish & hope we get fully staffed soon! Even though we work 12s there is not enough time to do everything.

sshunter · Jul 27, 2016

Hello ma'am/sir,

I recently just applied to the Central Prison in Raleigh. Do you still work there?