Female Inmates?

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I am hoping some of you can answer a question for me. I am a man and an ICU nurse. I have been offered a part time job at our county jail. The pay is good and I am looking forward to learning about a different area of nursing.

My question is regarding female inmates. I am concerned about being put in a position where my license would be put at risk in a he said / she said. I would be the only medical person in the facility during the hours I work. I asked the DON would I ever have to be alone with prisoners and she said not often but possibly yes as they are a small facility with limited personnel. I had some experience dealing with manipulative people while dealing with POWs in the army, but not females. I am a very happily married man with a good reputation and I do not want to risk that or my license.

I wold really like to take this job if I can resolve this concern. Any advice?

[Noryn]

Hopefully some correction nurses chime in here but why would a nurse ever be alone with an inmate? Not only are you setting yourself up for false charges, your safety may be in jeopardy. You may very well be the only medical person with the patient but I cannot believe a guard would not always accompany them.

[nancykday]

I work in a female prison, we have a few male nurses. I would recommend that you are never alone with a female, always have an officer or have the inmate in public.

[ex1140]

I've worked in corrections for about 2 years and I have NEVER heard anything good about working with females from nurses or officers...and if you are the type that doesn't get along with females...well...what more can I say.

[Truegem]

Will there be surveillance cameras? We have them. Where I work, the males are not assigned to the female dispensary. However they are assigned to the female infirmary. If there are cameras, I think you are ok for routine sick call. But if you ever have to check anything personal, like a butt lesion or something, lol, always have a guard present.

[SoloWytch]

Where I work, nurses are not allowed to be alone with an inmate in any gender combination. There is always a guard present, unless privacy is an issue, in which case another nurse or other medical person is present and the CO is right outside the (open) door/on the other side of the screen. It's all about safety.

[Ion]

I would rather work with male inmates.

My experience is you have to be pretty nasty as a woman to go to jail.

[Jarnaes]

Just keep in mind that these inmates have nothing better to do than to find a weakness in the system and exploit it. You'll come a cross many very charming, intelligent and friendly inmates. Always remind yourself that they are in prison for a reason. Do not become a pawn in their games. We have all seen fellow staff members escorted out in handcuffs charged with a felony. It is not a pretty sight. Don't loose your nursing license, professional reputation and your own freedom because of an inappropriate relationship. Keep your guard up at all times and go by the book.

[saremrn]

I work in a male/female inmate population. The females are, by far, the more manipulative and more apt to set someone up for sexual harrassment charges. Like some of the other responses said, dont be with an inmate alone. Always have a witness, preferably an officer. Dont let this deter you, just make sure you have your @#$ covered while working with/dealing with that population. Correctional nursing is great. Good luck and feel free to message me with any further questions about it.

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

I would just make sure that you are never put in a situation like that. I would request that a correctional officer be with you when you are with inmates. At the facilities that I work at there is always a guard with us. We always have a guard present if the inmate is out of the cell.

[Coffee Addict]

I would rather work with male inmates.

My experience is you have to be pretty nasty as a woman to go to jail.[/

I don't agree. A crime is a crime what does gender have to do with it? A man can be just as nasty as a woman. (in my view)

[Ion]

I don't agree. A crime is a crime what does gender have to do with it? A man can be just as nasty as a woman. (in my view)

In my experience, gender has a lot to do with it, Princess.

Maybe most women are not as nasty as our criminal men. Women do not make up the majority of the population in most jails, but are usually about 50%-ish of the general population in the community.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

Best of luck.