Corrections Nurse for a New Grad

Overcast · Jul 23, 2020

4 minutes ago, monylo32 said:
Update!! @sunshined So I started back in the beginning of March. My orientation was 12 weeks so by the time I finished orientation I felt comfortable being on my own. Although I still go to my peers or soup when I need help. I was placed on one of the yards as a clinic nurse M-F 8-4 with S/S off. Too be honest I love my job and the schedule...corrections is for me and I know that where I want to finish out. Something different to see everyday and the inmates always keep it interesting and entertaining LOL. They give us RNs a lot of autonomy. It is a bit intimidating at first but the 12 weeks of training you become used to how things are ran and the system used to chart. I started out in a limited term position but just last month was rolled over to permanent. Some would say correctional nurses aren’t nurses but we are. Our setting is just different than the traditional bedside nurse. I know it is not for everyone but I’m glad I choose nursing in corrections?

Thank you so much for the update! Very glad for you! When you say they put you on one of the yards, does that mean you’re outside? Can they mandate you to go/stay outside? I am just curious as I cannot handle the sun at all. How is it there with covid? Do you mind referencing the full time/permanent hire pay range? Pension?

CONGRATS again!

monylo32 · Jul 23, 2020

@Overcast each yard has a indoor clinic shared with dental so inmates are seen there for medical and dental needs. As far as mandating yes they can, have I been mandated yet, no LOL. You are never outside thou, all the work you do as nurses is within closed quarters (in office). Thankfully are covid cases are low only because we stopped a lot of movement and transfers within inmates plus staff is daily temp checked. As far as full time pay it’s 8500/month but keep in mind they take out close to 3k for taxes and pension. Hope this helps?

Overcast · Jul 23, 2020

10 hours ago, monylo32 said:
@Overcast each yard has a indoor clinic shared with dental so inmates are seen there for medical and dental needs. As far as mandating yes they can, have I been mandated yet, no LOL. You are never outside thou, all the work you do as nurses is within closed quarters (in office). Thankfully are covid cases are low only because we stopped a lot of movement and transfers within inmates plus staff is daily temp checked. As far as full time pay it’s 8500/month but keep in mind they take out close to 3k for taxes and pension. Hope this helps?

This is great feedback! Do you wear scrubs? What do they go to the clinic for? Band aids? What happens when someone gets seriously injured and needs a full on trauma save? I’ve seen prisoners in my hospital before, but what happens if they are released but the Dr says he still needs pain meds? How often are you actually performing hospital type duties? How many prisoners per yard? So you’re there with a dentist or hygienist? Are there any doctors on duty? I heard the dementia rate in prisoners is rising and some prisons are putting other prisoners to work to care for them because there’s no funding for care for them.

What exactly is your daily routine? Do you chill in the yard office all shift waiting for someone to come in with a need for the nurse? A band aids? What exactly do you do there? I think this sounds awesome and am very interested. Are there other nurses covering nights and weekends? Did you mention previously that you work at a jail or a prison? State or fed pension plan? Is it 20-25 years and then pension? Or is it just a matching of a 401K?

Apologies for all the questions....thank you so much again!

sunshined, ADN, BSN, LVN · Jul 23, 2020

14 hours ago, monylo32 said:
Update!! @sunshined So I started back in the beginning of March. My orientation was 12 weeks so by the time I finished orientation I felt comfortable being on my own. Although I still go to my peers or soup when I need help. I was placed on one of the yards as a clinic nurse M-F 8-4 with S/S off. Too be honest I love my job and the schedule...corrections is for me and I know that where I want to finish out. Something different to see everyday and the inmates always keep it interesting and entertaining LOL. They give us RNs a lot of autonomy. It is a bit intimidating at first but the 12 weeks of training you become used to how things are ran and the system used to chart. I started out in a limited term position but just last month was rolled over to permanent. Some would say correctional nurses aren’t nurses but we are. Our setting is just different than the traditional bedside nurse. I know it is not for everyone but I’m glad I choose nursing in corrections?

Thanks! I applied for a part-time position there a week or 2 ago

monylo32 · Jul 24, 2020

@sunshinedgood luck!

monylo32 · Jul 24, 2020

This is great feedback! Do you wear scrubs? What do they go to the clinic for? Band aids? What happens when someone gets seriously injured and needs a full on trauma save? I’ve seen prisoners in my hospital before, but what happens if they are released but the Dr says he still needs pain meds? How often are you actually performing hospital type duties? How many prisoners per yard? So you’re there with a dentist or hygienist? Are there anydoctors on duty? I heard the dementia rate in prisoners is rising and some prisons are putting other prisoners to work to care for them because there’s no funding for care for them.

What exactly is your daily routine? Do you chill in the yard office all shiftwaiting for someone to come in with a need for the nurse? A band aids? What exactly do you do there? I think thissounds awesome and am veryinterested. Are there other nurses covering nights and weekends? Did you mention previously that you work at a jail or a prison? State or fed pension plan? Is it 20-25 years and then pension? Or is it just a matching of a 401K?

Apologies for all the questions....thank you so much again!

@Overcastyes I wear scrubs. Inmates come for infection pain issues cuts wound care. If there is a trauma they sound medical code and the TTA (ER) nurses come and take him to the er room we have and if unstable they send him to hospital. When they come back and need meds especially IVs they go to our little hospital that we have until they are well enough to go back to they housing units. You are using more assessment skills than anything in the clinic sometimes you have to do to wound care and pack wounds or some guys have foleys you have to change. You really don’t deal with IVs unless you are in the mini hospital or tta (ER). There are doctors in every medical area some of them are on call for after hours. I wouldn’t know what to tell you about the dementia inmates we don’t have them in our prison. I want to say then get transferred to a state hospital memory care unit. The yard where I am is pretty chill so I have a line everyday for the most part you giving pain pills Or scheduling then on the doctors line for another day. yes other RNs cover the night shift. You have three different watches and all need medical coverage. Yes I worked at a state prison before so it’s state pension. You have a pension and a optional 401k. Before you can retire at 55 and receive your pension but new employees Have to work past 55 not sure what age To be able to retire.

Overcast · Jul 24, 2020

3 minutes ago, monylo32 said:
This is great feedback! Do you wear scrubs? What do they go to the clinic for? Band aids? What happens when someone gets seriously injured and needs a full on trauma save? I’ve seen prisoners in my hospital before, but what happens if they are released but the Dr says he still needs pain meds? How often are you actually performing hospital type duties? How many prisoners per yard? So you’re there with a dentist or hygienist? Are there anydoctors on duty? I heard the dementia rate in prisoners is rising and some prisons are putting other prisoners to work to care for them because there’s no funding for care for them.
What exactly is your daily routine? Do you chill in the yard office all shiftwaiting for someone to come in with a need for the nurse? A band aids? What exactly do you do there? I think thissounds awesome and am veryinterested. Are there other nurses covering nights and weekends? Did you mention previously that you work at a jail or a prison? State or fed pension plan? Is it 20-25 years and then pension? Or is it just a matching of a 401K?
Apologies for all the questions....thank you so much again!
@Overcastyes I wear scrubs. Inmates come for infection pain issues cuts wound care. If there is a trauma they sound medical code and the TTA (ER) nurses come and take him to the er room we have and if unstable they send him to hospital. When they come back and need meds especially IVs they go to our little hospital that we have until they are well enough to go back to they housing units. You are using more assessment skills than anything in the clinic sometimes you have to do to wound care and pack wounds or some guys have foleys you have to change. You really don’t deal with IVs unless you are in the mini hospital or tta (ER). There are doctors in every medical area some of them are on call for after hours. I wouldn’t know what to tell you about the dementia inmates we don’t have them in our prison. I want to say then get transferred to a state hospital memory care unit. The yard where I am is pretty chill so I have a line everyday for the most part you giving pain pills Or scheduling then on the doctors line for another day. yes other RNs cover the night shift. You have three different watches and all need medical coverage. Yes I worked at a state prison before so it’s state pension. You have a pension and a optional 401k. Before you can retire at 55 and receive your pension but new employees Have to work past 55 not sure what age To be able to retire.

THANK YOU for the time you took to give that feedback. How do you get hired as an ER nurse in a prison? If there’s no trauma for a day or so then do they just hang out?

monylo32 · Jul 25, 2020

@Overcast with cdcr they actually put you where they need you. If there is an opening for the TTA (er) and you do have experience you can request to be put there but it’s really where they need you, but there seems to be overtime in the TTA so you can get a chance to work there. There is some downtime and some days that are busier than others but keep in mind they do get a lot of codes called and 95% of the time turn out being b.s but that means charting so in between calls they are charting.

Teejay323 · Aug 24, 2021

On 7/24/2020 at 8:01 PM, monylo32 said:

@Overcast with cdcr they actually put you where they need you. If there is an opening for the TTA (er) and you do have experience you can request to be put there but it’s really where they need you, but there seems to be overtime in the TTA so you can get a chance to work there. There is some downtime and some days that are busier than others but keep in mind they do get a lot of codes called and 95% of the time turn out being b.s but that means charting so in between calls they are charting.

Hey it’s been a while how’s everything at Donovan? Still loving it? I would be half way done by now but thanks to covid my program has not even started yet it’s been delayed supposed to start 2022 now

monylo32 · Sep 8, 2021

@teejay323 Yep Im still at RJD! I really still do enjoy the job!! Corrections was a great choice for me. I spoken to a lot of RNs that work here that came from the Hospital and they all wish they would have started here, only because the benefits are great and too your are not prone to get as burned out as you would with bedside nursing, both physically and mentally. Im mostly in the Clinic, which can be busy but a good place to work. Wow so your program was pushed back until next year? Is it a community college or a private school?

John Redd · Sep 19, 2021

Hello @monylo32,

Quick question, did they ask you for references after your interview or none at all?

monylo32 · Sep 22, 2021

@John Redd yes I believe they asked for three