LTC facility to Prison Nursing

Specialties Correctional

Published

Specializes in med-surg, LTC, dialysis.

I'm an RN in central MO currently work in a nursing home, and have loved my job up until recently. "Corporate" is cutting out nursing staff. And although no one is losing their jobs due to it, we are however expected to work less days a week. We have approx. 75 residents, and up until now, we have had 2 charge nurses on day shift (me being one of them). Now, we are expected to work with just one charge nurse. That makes me responsible for all 75 residents, and I am running ragged!! Plus, we are due for another big state survey (inspection) any time now, and the DON and administrator are not in very good moods these days. Stess, stress, stress!

I live near a prison, an all-male C-3 state-run facility. I've been thinking of getting a nursing position there. I have read a lot of posts on this site, finding a lot of positive things are being said about prison nursing. Was wondering, do the nurses/medical staff get big inspections by state inspectors like they do in the nursing homes?

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I did the other way I went from Prison nursing to LTC administration. I left because NH state paid its prison nurses a lot less then its LTC nurses.

I loved prison nursing and missed it.

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Specializes in ER, PACU, CORRECTIONAL HEALTH, FLIGHT.

nah...no inspections that i have ever seen...and i have worked in two states in correctional health........most laid back nursing there is (shhh best kept secret in nursing)

I'm an RN in central MO currently work in a nursing home, and have loved my job up until recently. "Corporate" is cutting out nursing staff. And although no one is losing their jobs due to it, we are however expected to work less days a week. We have approx. 75 residents, and up until now, we have had 2 charge nurses on day shift (me being one of them). Now, we are expected to work with just one charge nurse. That makes me responsible for all 75 residents, and I am running ragged!! Plus, we are due for another big state survey (inspection) any time now, and the DON and administrator are not in very good moods these days. Stess, stress, stress!

I live near a prison, an all-male C-3 state-run facility. I've been thinking of getting a nursing position there. I have read a lot of posts on this site, finding a lot of positive things are being said about prison nursing. Was wondering, do the nurses/medical staff get big inspections by state inspectors like they do in the nursing homes?

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Specializes in med-surg, LTC, dialysis.

Thanks! Would you believe just as I posted this last night before going to bed, I wake up to go to work today, and the State Inspectors show up today!!! They had been to our nursing home to do inspections several times since I've worked there, but I lucked out each time without them inspecting MY work--until today! They watched me do dressing changes and pass meds. I do excellent work all the time without anyone watching, but to have a state inspector watch your every move is VERY intimidating. A transfer to a prison-nursing job sounds even more interesting now after your response!

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Specializes in ER, PACU, CORRECTIONAL HEALTH, FLIGHT.

you wont regret it. now shhhhhhhh its the best kept secret in nursing. we really shouldnt be discussing this on the open web....dang...now nurses in droves will be competing for those jobs

Thanks! Would you believe just as I posted this last night before going to bed, I wake up to go to work today, and the State Inspectors show up today!!! They had been to our nursing home to do inspections several times since I've worked there, but I lucked out each time without them inspecting MY work--until today! They watched me do dressing changes and pass meds. I do excellent work all the time without anyone watching, but to have a state inspector watch your every move is VERY intimidating. A transfer to a prison-nursing job sounds even more interesting now after your response!
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Specializes in med-surg, LTC, dialysis.
you wont regret it. now shhhhhhhh its the best kept secret in nursing. we really shouldnt be discussing this on the open web....dang...now nurses in droves will be competing for those jobs

Thanks texascowgirl! I have loved your responses, and you sound like the type of gal I would love to work with! Any chance you want to come to central MO and go to work with me at the prison here?

Question: I have read many posts about how prison nurses need good assessment skills. Well, I'm wondering how much different it could be from the assessment skills I use in the nursing home? Most of the residents have alzheimer's, so they are not the best in telling me what's wrong with them, because most of them don't know which end is up. I must use my assessment skills to know when to call the doctor, and when just to send a fax to the doctor.....or simply just wait it out and see if condition changes in time (like a belly ache).

How different could it be in the prison? Do you have on-call Doc's to call for advise?

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I am wondering the same thing about assessing? I am also going from LTC to a state facility. I am very excited and nervous!

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Specializes in Psych, Correctional, LTC and Rehab.

Ok...you guys are scaring me now...:)

We DO have inspections...just not like LTC...nothing is regulated more than LTC...it's up there with the Nuclear Power Industry..

We get Federal, State and Corporate at our place...it's the law...

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