County Jail VS Prison

RocknRollYogaRn · Dec 9, 2008

Yes. Is the medical run by a private company or does the county run the medical? Makes a big difference. County/State run is better then private company.

Basically, when they go to prison they know their fate, have already detoxed, and can't wait for more freedom, i.e. get to go out on the yard, gym, chow hall etc. without being cuffed all the time, etc. I happen to like both, but they do have their differences. I think prison is more like a long term thing like a nursing home, and jail is like the ER...they come in quick and unexpected, get taken care of, i.e. sentenced or not, then sent on their way somewhere else like to prison or home. Prison is the receiving end of a long process and they usually stay for a long time. Jail is short term. Hope this helps a little, and I didn't confuse you too much. Good luck and never lose your sense of humor.

MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2008

I have worked both... I prefer the county jail. You get people right off the street.

cscott1 · Dec 19, 2008

I agree with RNCCHP, jails do offer a lot of diversity in the inmate mix. You'll never know what's coming in from one minute to the next. I work in a faith based state run prison on the night shift and wouldn't trade my job for anything! A lot depends on where you chose to work and I do agree that state run is much better that private. Good luck! :smokin:

StephMatousek · Oct 23, 2009

I'm considering working in a jail or prison. I've heard of a few horror stories from fellow collegues which is holding me back from making a decision. Obviously there are risks in any nursing job, but is it really as dangerous as some say it is (being that it's a jail and all).

deyo321 · Oct 25, 2009

Don't know of any other nursing job where you get your own personal body guard. Really I think ER nurses are at much more risk than correctional nurses.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Oct 28, 2009

I've heard of a few horror stories from fellow collegues which is holding me back from making a decision. Obviously there are risks in any nursing job, but is it really as dangerous as some say it is (being that it's a jail and all).

I have worked in a state prison as a nurse since 2001. I feel much safer walking the yard than I did going down corridors late at night in a hospital that was located in a bad neighborhood. As far as your colleagues' stories - are they first hand or did they hear them from someone else? There are a lot of bad stories out there regarding jail and prison nursing. Some are true, some are greatly embellished and some are totally made up. As a general rule inmates treat medical staff well because we are providing something they want. In my facility we are never left alone with inmates, and if one ever made a move toward me (so far none has) he would be kissing linoleum in a split second.

Once I walked inside the fences, I was done with hospital nursing.

Really I think ER nurses are at much more risk than correctional nurses.

My sister is a nurse manager in the ER of a major teaching hospital. There was a shooting in her ER that left a pharmacist dead and a doctor wounded. I can honestly say that no one has ever been shot in our infirmary.

katkonk, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2009

Orca is right....try working in the county Level I trauma center in a big city, and without metal detectors for the public. THAT is scary, with all the wild meth and coke and God-knows-what-else users being brought in screaming at the top of their lungs. Not to even mention the little "gangsta's" milling around seeing if their gang member is going to make it, or seeing if they really managed to "off" someone. I feel ten times safer in a unit with C/O's around and hopefully watching my back.
p.s. we are never left alone with inmates, and if one ever made a move toward me (so far none has) he would be kissing linoleum in a split second.
I LIKE the "kissing linoleum"...ha ha ha...I will have to remember that one.

Hoozdo, ADN · Nov 14, 2009

I work pool PRN county jail and full time ICU in the hospital. I have to agree with everyone else. I feel perfectly safe in jail working with inmates. I always am with a guard.

I have been injured numerous times by pts in the ICU. Just last week I had a pt that actually made me concerned for my own safety at the hospital. (Details left out to prevent HIPPA violations.)

Also, the jail inmates are not sentenced yet. They are somewhat on "good behavior" because they have to go to court. A judge would not look too kindly on a prisoner that assaulted a nurse while in jail awaiting trial!