Is Corrections a good job for a new RN Grad???

asare rn · Sep 21, 2011

I say it's a good start. Nowadays when jobs are scarce and competition is great at whatever comes your way i say take it to gain experience and learn different fields. It maybe not the field you wanted but maybe learn to like it in the meantime that the economy is terribly down. I have worked in corrections for 2 yrs and so far I liked it. I am going back and looking for a per diem posiiton thru a registry. You will never know what you like until you tried doing the job.

nursgwithcompassion · Sep 21, 2011

Thanks asare rn. Im glad to hear that you enjoy working in corrections. I've heard so many different stories but evryone has their own experiences. I guess the most important factor here is to gain as much experience that I can and then eventually I too could pick up a per diem postion.

I have another question for you, do you remember how much time was alloted for training before you begin to practice autonomy?

asare rn · Sep 21, 2011

2 weeks usually for security orientation then 2 weeks on the position you are assigned. Here in California we have different positions in the county jail. Booking section , medication pass , clinics. So depending on the assignment for that day the supervisor would usually do the schedule. Everyone is cross trained.

asare rn · Sep 21, 2011

Did you use a nursing registry? What state will you be working in?

nursgwithcompassion · Sep 21, 2011

So about a total of 4 weeks for training it sounds like...

Im in No. California and I have not contacted any registries. Not sure where to start or which registry to call. If you dont mind, can you give me some names of registry here in cali?

asare rn · Sep 22, 2011

Prison health services, supplemental healthcare try those..they dont pay much bout entry level pay i think. Since the cut back the pay rates are changed lesser that they use to pay before.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Oct 5, 2011

My honest answer is no. Correctional nursing requires a degree of independence that a nurse with no other experience simply does not have. My agency (Department of Corrections in a western state) will not hire RNs unless they have at least a year of experience, which I agree with. Correctional nursing is a great job - just not a great first job.

PrisonNurseSara · Oct 9, 2011

I was licensed in my home state for 13 months as a new grad before starting in Corrections. AND I LOVE MY JOB! I worked in home health for the year prior to being hired with Corrections, and although it was great, I was in a supervisory position and craved being a "bedside" nurse.

Orca is right in that correctional nursing requires a lot of independence. If you feel confident in your basic skills, definitely consider this rewarding specialty.

I received 5 weeks of on-the-floor orientation. After 2 months I was sent to a 40-hour training course specializing in basic administration of healthcare to an inmate population. Then at my 6 month mark I attended a 72-hour training course for basic security tactics, etc.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2011

I received 5 weeks of on-the-floor orientation. After 2 months I was sent to a 40-hour training course specializing in basic administration of healthcare to an inmate population. Then at my 6 month mark I attended a 72-hour training course for basic security tactics, etc.

Correctional facilities will vary on this. I received one day of training from security. I've been asking to attend a self-defense course for over a year, but we are always too short-staffed. I never received any formal training on administration of healthcare to inmates. I received about 2-3 weeks of on-the-fly, rushed training, following another nurse and working on my own. I have learned basic concepts about correctional healthcare from time on the job and by reading the NCCHC books on my own.

prison_nurse · Feb 20, 2012

I say it depends on several factors:

Length of orientation

Number of staff working with you

Experience with emergencies

Correctional nursing is really "hit the ground running". I remember when I started corrections I had several years under my belt as an LPN and RN, but I wasn't prepared for the types of emergencies I had to deal with. Many times I was the only nurse scheduled, and it could be very frightening at times.

My advice would be to try agency work first. If you like it then apply full time, if not, then nothing's lost.

ChuckeRN, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2012

I also did the one day training from Security which included self-defense. Which by the way was a complete waste of time. I train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA style fighting and I actually scared the Officer I partnered with as I actually took the training (or tried to) seriously.

The rest of the new employee training involved common sense stuff (IMO).

And I also received no formal training, just on-the-job training. I think it helped me a lot that my preceptorship was in the ER. I have been here for 6 months now and I see how truly lacking the training really is when I see new grad nurses start working.

Correctional facilities will vary on this. I received one day of training from security. I've been asking to attend a self-defense course for over a year, but we are always too short-staffed. I never received any formal training on administration of healthcare to inmates. I received about 2-3 weeks of on-the-fly, rushed training, following another nurse and working on my own. I have learned basic concepts about correctional healthcare from time on the job and by reading the NCCHC books on my own.