LPN.working in a jail

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Have anybody worked in a jail before...if so what can an LPN expect when working there.. Thanks in advance

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Yes and expect big med pass,lots of vital signs,sick calls and chest pains...it could be done in a shift but sometimes in my opinion on where you are working your license can be on the line so know your scope of practice. And good luck!!!

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Have anybody worked in a jail before...if so what can an LPN expect when working there.. Thanks in advance

I work as an LPN in a jail... Med pass, sick call, lots of orders, chest pains to get out to a hospital, detoxers like crazy... And men who claim once they get out they gonna find u n take u to dinner O_O

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I work as an LPN in a jail... Med pass, sick call, lots of orders, chest pains to get out to a hospital, detoxers like crazy... And men who claim once they get out they gonna find u n take u to dinner O_O

Lol yess crazy they believe that every nurse wants them..lol

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Specializes in mental health, Alzheimer, dementia,.

I have heard that the pay is good but I don't know I have never worked in a jail and don't know that I could

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I worked in a jail here in arkansas and hated it I quit after a month cuz it was a bs job and what someone said is right I was left alone quite a bit even though your not supposed to be no guards will be with you at all times I was scared my license was on the line everytime I went in due to the inmates crying about chest pains and the crash cart and how they were treated by the nurse on duty we also had to write our own orders for antibiotics most times for the doc to sign off later....BE CAREFUL

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Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

My utmost respect goes to all nurses who work in prisons. I honestly do not think I could do it.

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I didn't like it. The sheer size and nature of the med pass seemed to promote med errors. Sometimes we were even told to pass meds (a LOT of meds) that had been set up by another shift. The whole "kite" system is a joke. The process was so slow that inmates would wait a week just to get an order for some motrin or some zantac. Endless sick calls where the inmates would c/o "chest pain" in the hopes of a field trip to the hospital. And the guards.... if they didn't like you or were having a bad day, they could make your med pass Hell, purposefully making you wait and wait and wait. No, I'll take LTC any day of the week....

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I didn't like it. The sheer size and nature of the med pass seemed to promote med errors. Sometimes we were even told to pass meds (a LOT of meds) that had been set up by another shift. The whole "kite" system is a joke. The process was so slow that inmates would wait a week just to get an order for some motrin or some zantac. Endless sick calls where the inmates would c/o "chest pain" in the hopes of a field trip to the hospital. And the guards.... if they didn't like you or were having a bad day they could make your med pass Hell, purposefully making you wait and wait and wait. No, I'll take LTC any day of the week....[/quote']

Yes indeed, I left the jail for LTC and sooo much happier,, it pays more but at the end its not worth it

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Specializes in LTC, Correctional Nursing.

I agree! I worked at a prison as a guard for 12 years and then as a nurse when I got out of nursing school. The amount of medication that you had to prepare was unimaginable not to mention having to use your own gas to distribute to every unit w/o being compinsated for it. Often, we would work short doubling the strain and stress of trying to get things done in a timely manner. I left after a month and never looked back. I wouldn't recommend correctional nursing to anyone. It's a quick way to get your license snatched. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg & Critical care.

I work at a prison and I don't have a problem with it. Although I'm not at a maximum security unit therefore I don't have to pill pass into the barracks. If they want their pills they will come to the pill window to pick it up. The infirmary stays locked at all times and only the important people has keys. Each nurse has their own task. One nurse work on sick calls/chronic care with the doctor, another nurse will take care of the walk ins, and another nurse working the pill window. We have alot of diabetics so they come to the pill window as well before each meal. Diabetics gets called out first then the general population. Every where I go I make sure I have a guard with me. I do my job as a nurse and I'm nice to everyone to make it a good work day. As far as the chest pains if you do your proper assessment each and every time you can tell if a inmate isn't being honest you. If you do an EKG and get a normal sinus rhythm and bp and pulse is almost perfect spo2 is 100% you call the doctor and let them know what you are working with and they'll tell you what to do even if you know the inmate is playing a game. You must take all complaints of chest pain seriously regardless. We have a protocol book/standing orders for all walk-ins and things to do before calling the doctor like giving nitro and other stuff . But whenever in doubt just call the doctor. It's not bad you just have to be confident and good at what you do. You know your scope of practice if its not in the protocol or standing orders you call and get a order if you need it. You also have to have a good crew to work with it. I'll take working at the prison any day over doing LTC. I learn stuff everyday at the prison LTC all you do is pass meds and lose all your skills you learned while in school and I get paid a little more then when I was in a LTC facility.

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Thanks everybody for your response

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