Hi, I would like to comment on being in corrections as an RN. I currently work at a maximum security prison, and find the position interesting, demanding, at times chaotic, and incredibly challenging. If you are looking for an easy job, this is not it...however if you are looking for a position which will at times challenge your creativity (at times we run out of even the most basic medical supplies to provide even very basic nursing care)test your patience (inmates are without doubt an incredibly difficult population to serve) and test your ability to nurse as you were taught within the constraints of an extraordinarily restrictive environment, THIS IS THE PLACE!!! My fellow nurses that I have the good fortune to work with are a team of some of the most dedicated men and women I have ever met...not to say there are not some bad seeds..but these people get weeded out over time through natural attrition, or sometimes happenstance. I think that goes for every profession, however. DONT GIVE UP ON CORRECTIONAL NURSING AS A PROFESSION!!! It is NOT simply a place where crappy nurses look towards who are unemployable elsewhere...or are looking for an easy ride!! We work hard, and are as dedicated as a nurse in the ER or ICU!!!
update: i'm going into my 3rd month and came to terms that my originial nursing goals are changing. I'm going to start working on my BSN this year and stay at corrections for now. I have more energy now, 100% less stress and my wife and kids are glad to have me less grumpy. The positive about my position is assessing for any potential emergencies that may occur on the main booking floor and triaging. The staff on my schedule are upbeat and are looking for positive teamwork. The negative is, I don't have much hands on. Maybe I'll pick up a day in the hospital to keep my skills up or end up in one of the clinics. I'm alot more happy and sleep better the night before work. One thing for sure, it's never boring. Later.
Specializes in psychiatric, UR analyst, fraud, DME,MedB.
update: i'm going into my 3rd month and came to terms that my originial nursing goals are changing. I'm going to start working on my BSN this year and stay at corrections for now. I have more energy now, 100% less stress and my wife and kids are glad to have me less grumpy. The positive about my position is assessing for any potential emergencies that may occur on the main booking floor and triaging. The staff on my schedule are upbeat and are looking for positive teamwork. The negative is, I don't have much hands on. Maybe I'll pick up a day in the hospital to keep my skills up or end up in one of the clinics. I'm alot more happy and sleep better the night before work. One thing for sure, it's never boring. Later.
You are a male nurse and possibly a more appropriate gender for this type of population. Will a female nurse feel the same way as you do? You see I am looking at a change of direction after 2 years. I am presently doing Medicare UR. The prison postion seemed to be open and with good benefits............but I am also aware of the horrid stories by some other nurses, like one of those prison films? Could you shed some light in this type of population to work for? Thank you!:)
there are more female nurses than male nurses where i work. It comes down to being firm, fair and as honest as you need to be at that moment. i haven't seen, but i've heard stories, but i'm not disgusted by alot of things. I working at a county level which i was told is probably one of the better areas.
Specializes in psychiatric, UR analyst, fraud, DME,MedB.
there are more female nurses than male nurses where i work. It comes down to being firm, fair and as honest as you need to be at that moment. i haven't seen, but i've heard stories, but i'm not disgusted by alot of things. I working at a county level which i was told is probably one of the better areas.
...........( hey the icons are not working???)
Thank you for the response, much appreciated! I have worked in psych locked up units, so this may help. It's just that I heard a horrid description of this area of specialty from this thread. she made it sound like "kiss as.." w/ the CO or you will be in trouble! I feel sorry for her to work in a dysfunctional such as the one she works for. How would you know if the place and staff is straight and efficient before you take the job. what are the tell tales to look for? . In a prison population, it must be a team for the staff or it can be most unpleasant.
Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
Do you recommend new LPNS with no experience start off working in a correctional setting?
Absolutely not. A new nurse will need to develop decent assessment skills, be comfortable enough with pt contacts to not show fear/anxiety, and develop a good BS-meter before dealing with this type of population.
Specializes in Forensic Psych, Pediatrics, Corrections.
When I did my RN pre-grad 120hrs, I asked to go to the prison. Prison Nursing was an area of interest for me, that was sparked when I worked as a mental health tech in forensic psych. School was an invaluable way to experience this field without locking myself into something I was unsure of. You may want to see if you can do this while you are still in school. I took a float position as a new grad RN, but I had a little seasoning before hand. Good luck
I would like to work in a prison once i get my Lpn. So tell me how does it work. like what does the LPN do?
NO!!! The pace and amount of knowledge required is not good for ANY brand new nurse, not even if you have your BSN. I agree with the other poster saying that your assessment skillls have to be above top notch, but with that your BS meter has to be in overdrive at all times. The inmates have nothing better to do all day than to figure out ways to manipulate the system and you are what stands between them and the drugs that they want.
You also have to be very comfortable in being able to say "NO" and mean it. In school they teach you that you are to do everything to make the patient comfortable and attend to their needs, but in a prison they are always inmates first and patients second. Security takes center stage over everything else. If you are presented with a medical emergency, the area has to be secured before medical can take action. A lot of nurses I have known have a big problem with that, but it is for the safety of all involved.
Specializes in psychiatric, UR analyst, fraud, DME,MedB.
NO!!! The pace and amount of knowledge required is not good for ANY brand new nurse, not even if you have your BSN. I agree with the other poster saying that your assessment skillls have to be above top notch, but with that your BS meter has to be in overdrive at all times. The inmates have nothing better to do all day than to figure out ways to manipulate the system and you are what stands between them and the drugs that they want.
You also have to be very comfortable in being able to say "NO" and mean it. In school they teach you that you are to do everything to make the patient comfortable and attend to their needs, but in a prison they are always inmates first and patients second. Security takes center stage over everything else. If you are presented with a medical emergency, the area has to be secured before medical can take action. A lot of nurses I have known have a big problem with that, but it is for the safety of all involved.
Wow....above is the best advice about the prison specialty. Well said and well covered from my view. I was a pysch nurse myself , and still I wonder if the prison mentality is the place for me. I have always refused assignments to drug rehab section because of the constant manipulation of the patients, of which is their 2nd nature, really. I preferred the real psych patients ( lock up unit), because there is really no intentional manipulation and they are more predictable. I was wondering if this is a population that I can really work with?
Specializes in psychiatric, UR analyst, fraud, DME,MedB.
If you don't want to deal with manipulative behaviours stay where you are.
Excuse me I had been in these manipulative population ( lock up Psych adn drug rehab) !
I am talking specifically to prison nurses.....your specialty list does not show this, so I am not interested in your smart as... comment. Your specialty above showed that you have no experience in this either.....so if you have nothing to say productive , do not even comment or say something just to be nasty.
I am sure that manipulation is everywhere w/ varying degrees...maybe that is why I prefer a position that is less manipulation , per se by patients and staff. I expected this from a pysch unit and drug rehab, since this is their coping mechanism, but not acceptable from any other field or area.... so time is devoted to "straight work" instead of the mind game. One should know the "pschological requirements" before entering a position, to see it it is something acceptable or even tolerable to that persons personality.
sire6240
11 Posts
update: i'm going into my 3rd month and came to terms that my originial nursing goals are changing. I'm going to start working on my BSN this year and stay at corrections for now. I have more energy now, 100% less stress and my wife and kids are glad to have me less grumpy. The positive about my position is assessing for any potential emergencies that may occur on the main booking floor and triaging. The staff on my schedule are upbeat and are looking for positive teamwork. The negative is, I don't have much hands on. Maybe I'll pick up a day in the hospital to keep my skills up or end up in one of the clinics. I'm alot more happy and sleep better the night before work. One thing for sure, it's never boring. Later.