Kentucky Prison LPN

[nursesarah10]

I am currently awaiting an interview this week. I've been reading the threads on here and am so psyched to know some answers to questions I had...but I keep hearing about the case scenarios in the interview. IT's been about a year since I've been a nurse and haven't had a full on nurse job in the mean time...just phlebotomy and reaction type situations. Should I focus on the prison related illness and issues to brush up on beforehand?

Also... before I had graduated I had heard this story of a friends friend getting in trouble because they accused him of stealing meds and selling to guards....something along those lines..I asked a CNA I had come into contact with at a Womens Corr. and she said she had heard of it, but said if all nurses would just stop being lazy and crush the pain meds that they wouldn't have those issues. Is this a really common problem? I don't want to be the good nurse there, do my job, and be blamed for doing something like that and be punished..ie: jepordize my nursing license. Is this an ongoing issue everywhere?

Another thing...why are the nursing jobs at such a high turnaround? Is it cleaning house..and is that a proper question to ask at the interview if they offer me the job? What is the Kentucky State Prison like out in LaGrange? Anyone know?

[Erikadawn RN]

I work in delaware, and the only thing that you should worry about is policy and procedure, and what you do. Saying that, in correctional institutions there will be things that are not right. I see more lazy nurses than drug seekers. What other people do is there business, focus on your job. Don't go in trying to tell on people, or tell them what should be done. Focus on you doing the right thing. But also you will need advice on how to get things done quicker, med pass, sick call, etc. Its not a hospital and things will be done differently for security issues or staffing issues.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

One question we ask is whether the applicant believes that he/she will have to alter the way they practice nursing as a result of working in a correctional facility, and if so, how. What we are looking for is guarding against overfamiliarity, not doing favors for inmates, being mindful of the environment (securing sharps/meds/etc.), and it never hurts to throw in that you would refer to facility policy to guide your actions.

[nursesarah10]

Great advice. New job meaning more anxiety I guess...I just wanted to cover all my areas before accepting. I am so excited about this job oppurtunity! I am all about learning. I've always been open to that. I talked to an old CO that worked the prisons around here and she was prettty confident about the nurses liking their job. I asked about gunning and other issues I had read about and she said it's a rare thing. Thank you again for the advice!