Leaving LTC for Corrections

springfieldrn · Sep 17, 2009

Good for you for standing up for yourself! I worked at a State Pennitentary for 3months. Benefits and pay were great but I personally couldn't handle the enviroment. A benefit of state jobs is they are typically union.

Karynica, RN · Sep 17, 2009

I wouldn't have allowed them to take my holiday pay without a huge fight.

I worked corrections in a super-max for several years. I enjoyed it, but of course the inmates were in their cells 23 hours out of the day. It was a much different type of nursing.

I wish you the best of luck

jschut, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2009

There's really no choice in the matter... I wish I had a chance in he** of getting my holiday pay, but who are they going to believe?

She's the one that runs the place.. even the "administrator" (and I use that term loosely) lets her run the show.

There's so much more "behind the scenes" mess, I just don't know. All I can say is, I want out.

And I hope and pray, that this new job is my ticket..... :)

dannyc12 · Sep 17, 2009

Be careful in that field. I've seen work in corrections do some strange things to people. They sometimes have a hard time leaving the job behind after hours.

Disclaimer - this can happen in any profession, but I've had a couple friends display some weird habits and attitudes after a few years in corrections jobs.

jschut, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2009

Be careful in that field. I've seen work in corrections do some strange things to people. They sometimes have a hard time leaving the job behind after hours.
Disclaimer - this can happen in any profession, but I've had a couple friends display some weird habits and attitudes after a few years in corrections jobs.

LOL! Thank you.... but this is the same way I feel about working in LTC for so long!

Karynica, RN · Sep 17, 2009

Trying not to get too off topic, but I also had friends in corrections that changed.When I say change I mean they literally became different people. It hardens people too. I was one of those people that didn't get caught up in the dating scene at the prison too. There was a LOT of that going on. A LOT of marriages were ruined. I can vouch for this because it happened to a friend of mine and my nephew too. It's a whole different world in corrections. Just don't let people talk you into something you don't want to do. I knew nurses who were dating Lieutenants, Captains, it was just a big affair all over the place.

And..please don't let me scare you away from corrections. I just know from first hand experience what it's like. :)

diane227, LPN, RN · Sep 17, 2009

Are you going to be in a men's facility or a woman's facility? I worked in a women's facility for a time as the prison psych nurse and I really liked it there. But do some reading first, especially on the topic of manipulation. And listen to and abide by the rules. They are there for a reason. Keep your personal life to yourself and NEVER tell any inmate where you live.

I did volunteer work in a male prison and it is a bit different than the female prison was. I was more frightened there because a lot of those guys are so strong. But those women can whip your ass too, don't think they can't. I found that if I treated everyone with respect and not like a third class citizen, they offered me the same in return. I never had any trouble with any of my female clients.

One of the things that did bother me was that many of the staff just treated the women like cattle and they were never nice to anyone. How much effort does it take to be nice and to treat someone like a human being. Everyone in prison was something else before they committed their crime. Just be careful. And if they pass you inappropriate notes etc, take then to the warden immediately. They will try you to see what they can get away with. The guards take the lead in terms of the removal of handcuffs etc. They know how dangerous the person is.

When I was at the men's prison I spoke with a few of the nurses and they told me that the guys they feared the most were the guys on death row. They would kill you in a heart beat. They had nothing to lose.

jschut, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2009

It is a men's prison.

Thank you for the warnings about families being ruined. I can understand that. Although, I am fully and totally devoted to my husband, I understand that I would still have to beware of the manipulators. And they are all manipulators....

I saw first hand a nurse being hateful and mean to the prisoners, and that really bothered me. The men were nice to her, and treated her with respect, but she treated them like dirt. Actually, she was very offensive to them. I believe everyone has the same right to be treated like a human being, and I'm not going to know what they are in there for, just that they "didn't do it". At least my own bias won't come into play.

It a whole different area of nursing, one my husband doesn't think I will like, I don't know if I will or not, but I want to try.

I have only worked in LTC for so long, and I am completely burned out with the whole thing.

Thank you all for your opinions. I appreciate you!

diane227, LPN, RN · Sep 17, 2009

You might be surprised. Most of the inmates that I came in contact with did admit to their crimes and they wanted to talk about what they did and why. This was not true for the pedophiles however.

Erikadawn RN · Sep 17, 2009

I have worked in corrections for over a year, I enjoy my job. I hated long term care, I treat the inmates with respect because they respect me. I care about my patients, and make sure they have what the doctor ordered for them. Yes they can be manipulative, but checking a chart is so easy. Yes we have people here who are diagnosed with cancer, hiv, hep, or other chronic diseases, I talk and counsel them as if I would any other person who is ill. Often I we are the first people they see after getting an diagnosis that they may have only 6 months to live.What I not have compassion and a kind word because they are inmates? Your job is what you make of it. Good Luck

aminv · Sep 17, 2009

i think you should go for it. you never know until you go for it