from corrections to where?

[bymysoultosqueezeRN]

i took corrections job right out of school because i couldn't get a hospital job but now im thinking if i will ever be able to land a hospital job after corrections. I feel like im being dumbed down because i dont use most of the skills i learned in nursing school, i also want to pursue graduate school but how can i be an educator if i dont have the experience myself. I was thinking of leaving nursing and doing my masters in forensic psychology and counselling but that would probably be a pay cut and i dont know what the job outlook is for that profession (masters as opposed to phd in psychology) I would really like to know my career goal and start pursuing that goal, right now i just feel like im stuck not knowing what to do. Anyone moved from corrections somewhere else? without previous hospital experience?

[MomBSN]

Shouldn't be a problem, I did it myself ...left corrections went to the hospital med-surg for a short amount of time and was offered a case management job at the same hospital. Moved on to do triage.... By the way, I was offered a job at every place i had applied and counter offers were made when i declined the position. You may however wish to wait until the nursing job market opens up again. In the meantime, I recommend taking some classes (CEs) to brush up on the areas you feel you are lacking.

Good luck

[mariahas4kids]

I am the same boat, in corrections and looking for a job elsewhere because this facility is closing. What I am doing is applying for everything hoping someone will give me a chance at an interview. I am also getting certifications I know I will need in the hospital. I am studing for ACLS, PALS and NRP. I really would like to shift to pediatrics, so am taking more classes to reflect that.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

Shouldn't be a problem, I did it myself ...left corrections went to the hospital med-surg for a short amount of time and was offered a case management job at the same hospital. Moved on to do triage.... By the way, I was offered a job at every place i had applied and counter offers were made when i declined the position. You may however wish to wait until the nursing job market opens up again. In the meantime, I recommend taking some classes (CEs) to brush up on the areas you feel you are lacking.

Good luck

Did you work med-surg at some time before going into corrections, though? I think some new grads are wondering if they will limit their future career choices in the hospital setting if they start out in corrections without that initial med/surg foundation.

[MomBSN]

Did you work med-surg at some time before going into corrections, though? I think some new grads are wondering if they will limit their future career choices in the hospital setting if they start out in corrections without that initial med/surg foundation.

I definitely did not work a year of med surg (closer to 1-2 months). Also the corrections facilities I was in had higher acuity and was very similar to a med surg floor with dr rounds every am. During my time, I performed phlebotomy, IVs, drsg changes, 3 day post op open heart patients, dressing changes, assessments, etc in a ward (the infirmary in patient area). This was only one aspect of working in corrections...there were so many other nursing skills that i used. At one point, i remember thinking that I was losing some of the skills that I left nursing school with but I came to realize that we all hit the ground running with the same foundation and whatever area you enter you will "lose" some skills and specialize in other areas (see novice to expert Benner's Stages of Clinical Competence). For example, for me in the corrections setting there was far more autonomy than in med-surg. You relied heavily on your assessment skills sans the equipment. naturally, my assessment skills moved from novice to expert and my managing an IV pump remained at novice (iv pumps were not allowed, we had to use good ole' gravity ).

As for the question, do you need the standard year of med surg for a job in the hospital setting? I would not limit myself to applying only to med surg if you feel you would be competent/qualified in other hospital positions. Most likely you will find yourself starting out in med-surg (as those positions tend to open up more quickly) but d/t the prior experience you most likely will not have to stay in that area a year.

[bymysoultosqueezeRN]

I definitely did not work a year of med surg (closer to 1-2 months). Also the corrections facilities I was in had higher acuity and was very similar to a med surg floor with dr rounds every am. During my time, I performed phlebotomy, IVs, drsg changes, 3 day post op open heart patients, dressing changes, assessments, etc in a ward (the infirmary in patient area). This was only one aspect of working in corrections...there were so many other nursing skills that i used. At one point, i remember thinking that I was losing some of the skills that I left nursing school with but I came to realize that we all hit the ground running with the same foundation and whatever area you enter you will "lose" some skills and specialize in other areas (see novice to expert Benner's Stages of Clinical Competence). For example, for me in the corrections setting there was far more autonomy than in med-surg. You relied heavily on your assessment skills sans the equipment. naturally, my assessment skills moved from novice to expert and my managing an IV pump remained at novice (iv pumps were not allowed, we had to use good ole' gravity ).

As for the question, do you need the standard year of med surg for a job in the hospital setting? I would not limit myself to applying only to med surg if you feel you would be competent/qualified in other hospital positions. Most likely you will find yourself starting out in med-surg (as those positions tend to open up more quickly) but d/t the prior experience you most likely will not have to stay in that area a year.

i would not call getting med surg job limiting, more like a miracle