Just Wanted to Introduce Myself

[northernstate]

Hi! I've been perusing through the many entries in these boards and you all sound like a bunch of caring, devoted individuals. I had been looking for a place that I could read more about nurses in correctional facilities, and now I've found it.

I work for a small (430) all male medium security prison in northern Vt. It really seems more like a boys camp rather than a prison. I've been here 3 years and I think I've finally found my niche. Everything from excitement to emergencies! We have a 6 bed infirmary which is filled to capacity 90% of the time with everything from neuro-surgeries (post op) to end of life care. A very exhilarating environment to work in.

I saw in one post that I was reading that you get more thankyou's here than in other settings. I also find this to be true. I have been in nursing for 16 yrs and have worked in multiple fields, but I find correctional nursing the most satisfying of all. I have never once felt un-safe or threatened but I know I must be alert at all times because you never know for sure what will happen from one day to the next.

One problem I observed since starting there is the immense turnover of nurses. There are 4 of us that have been there through thick and thin, and a total of at least 10 to 12 have come and gone. Some after as little as one day! Do any of you have a big turnover where you are? Just curious :)

Thanks for listening

[CCHP-RN]

Welcome to the corrections board!!

I am director of nurses for a small private correctional healthcare company. We also see quite a large turnover in several of our facilities. I think there are several reasons for the large turnover, with a varied "excuse" for each facility. In some of ours, if there is a poor relationship between medical and security, the nurses bail pretty quickly. People also have friends and relatives telling them, "I can't believe you work there. Are you nuts?", etc.

Corrections is not for everyone, but we do have several facilities in which we have very low turnover. Some of the reasons for this are:

1. Good working relationship with security. Our happiest nurses feel like they are part of the family with security. If security treats us as outsiders, they are less happy.

2. Humor - being able to laugh at work with other staff, security, and supervisors.

3. Having good supervisors who listen, work alongside the nurses, provide relief for vacations, illness, etc.

4. My supervisors can make or break a new employee by their attitude toward security and medical staff.

Luckily we have excellent supervisors at most of our facilities.

Hope you enjoy the board!