Interview Q: Why do you want to work in a correctional facility?

Specialties Correctional

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Hi guys. What would be a good answer to the question: Why do you want to work in a correctional facility?

Thank you for any help.

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I hate to be that nurse, but only you can truly answer that question. Try researching what nurses do/their role in a correctional facility and decide if that best fits your personality/temperament, expertise etc. (LOTS of psych involved and you MUST be strong in your assessments!)

Allnurses has tons of info and opinions on correctional nursing too!

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Hi guys. What would be a good answer to the question: Why do you want to work in a correctional facility?

Thank you for any help.

I like it because I'm intimately familiar with the type of people you find in jail. I've put enough of them there, lol. I also like that patient satisfaction has no bearing in a jail or prison. In the hospital, that drove me crazy. We provide basic needs only. Additionally, I get light years more autonomy than any nurse in a hospital gets, plus I get to do a lot of things besides nursing; admin., security, transports, even patrol if I had time as I was a police officer for many years prior to nursing and am still qualified and equipped for such. I work with and for people who value my opinion and assistance and come to me to help solve problems. In the hospital, I always felt like we RNs were near the bottom of the dooty pile. Even the lab people got to walk all over us, and for that reason I was not well liked because I didn't let it happen to me or my team during my shift (was charge nurse).

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This question can really be an eye opener to the interviewer if you are not prepared for it. You want to give a realistic answer that isn't loaded with "me-isms" such as: (I like the money or "easy" work). If nothing else a neutral answer will suffice.(an opportunity to reinstate in the retirement system I previously worked for and work in psych nursing for 5-10 years). This is an opportunity to state how your background and experience has prepared you to work in a correctional facility. ( I worked with patients suffering from mental illness, ex-offenders, or referred pts to drug and alcohol programs). You can also add as a statement that you will follow protocol, not bring in or take out anything for an inmate. There was a great thread on here about correctional questions. Search for interview questions for lots of ideas.

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Thank you, guys, for all your inputs. I definitely want to stay away from the "me-isms" response.

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