Need Info On Your Job!

twin#2 · Jul 30, 2005

Hello everyone! I am a relatively new nurse. I graduated from college a triple major, Math, Nursing and Administration of Justice. I am interested in the possibility of becoming a nurse for the local Sheriff's Department here in California. Here is my question: What do nurses in this setting typically do on a routine basis, what type of patients do you get, is there violence involved (meaning the nurse -vs-pateint), what are some typical job related tasks, etc? Any information that you could provide me with would be so deeply appreciated. I wanted to be a sheriff's deputy long ago but was injured and had to switch fields so here I am, an RN. So, I figuered that being an RN for the S.O. might be a way for me to still kind of work in a field which I so loved at one point. Thanks to all who reply! :)

I have a collegue who works f/t @ the Indio jail (California) she (along c most prison/jail Nurses) mainly hand out psych meds (some routine meds; not a lot as the prison population are relatively young c addiction problems) In the prison system anyone going to the infirmary is accompanied by a guard as the do not have the expectation of privacy; if the pt has a serious injury they go c police escort to the hospital.

I've considered this myself. My father (the most patient man I ever knew) wanted me to join the LAPD when I turned 18 in '79 but, after looking into it I declined, law enforcement still interested me but I knew I didn;t have my fathers' patience. I also wasn't

sure how much backup I'd get (I am a woman but, @ 6' tall I met the'79 height requirements) but,by the time attitudes had changed in law enforcement I was too old. My tiny 4'8"jail RN collegue has never felt threatened. I have worked trauma/medical & oncology & am deft @ avoiding being bit. scratched etc...I never take my eyes off of altered pts & I can duck stat. Assaulting nurses in hospitals is accepted; in prisons the nurses are protected by the guards & this is why I;ve considered it.

joan jaeger · Aug 1, 2005

Hi, I'm a correctional RN working in Washington state. I left a level 111 trauma center working a locked psych unit and made the transition to correctional nursing which I found easy to do since I've always been security mindful. I feel much more safe working in a prison and see much less staff assaults. Personally I don't do any hands on during a show of force which is so nice. I mainly give out psych meds and help in the infirmary triaging various medical senerios. We see our share of chest pain, broken bones, and illnesses. I'm very glad I made the switch to correctional nursing.

CTSCOUT · Sep 5, 2005

:nurse:

BEEN A CORRECTIONAL HEAD NURSE IN A STATE PRISON FOR 9 MONTHS NOW AFTER 22 YEARS OF ICU/ER EXPERIENCE IN ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL...SECURITY NOT AN ISSUE EXCEPT FOR PRIORITY...MEDICINE IS A GUEST IN THEIR HOUSE AND THEIR CONCERNS COME BEFORE OURS...WE ARE A LEVEL 4-5 MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY SO ALL OF OUR INMATES SUFFER FROM SOME SORT OF MENTAL ILLNESS...IE PARANOID SCHIZO, BIPOLARS, MAJOR DEPRESSION DISORDERS, ETC...WE GET ALL THE SEX CRIMES (RAPE, PEDOPHILIA) TOO...MOST OF THE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS ARE STELLER BUT THERE ARE A FEW THAT SEEM BENT ON PUNISHING THE INMATES FURTHER IN MANY SMALL WAYS AND RESENT THE HEALTH CARE, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND RECREATIONS OFFERED TO INMATES... NOT UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF THEIR DISEASE AND HOW IT AFFECTS BEHAVIOR. OCCASIONALLY I FEEL LIKE DOROTHEA DIX, TRYING TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND

sa48sh · Sep 5, 2005

Hello everyone! I am a relatively new nurse. I graduated from college a triple major, Math, Nursing and Administration of Justice. I am interested in the possibility of becoming a nurse for the local Sheriff's Department here in California. Here is my question: What do nurses in this setting typically do on a routine basis, what type of patients do you get, is there violence involved (meaning the nurse -vs-pateint), what are some typical job related tasks, etc? Any information that you could provide me with would be so deeply appreciated. I wanted to be a sheriff's deputy long ago but was injured and had to switch fields so here I am, an RN. So, I figuered that being an RN for the S.O. might be a way for me to still kind of work in a field which I so loved at one point. Thanks to all who reply! :)

Hi Trama Lady. I've worked in 'corrections for 18 years and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. There is a great difference between City/county jails and State prisons. I worked in a jail for a year. Tooooo transient!!! You don't get a chance to even get a grasp on your patient before he bonds out, only to return months later after being to court and sentenced. If he's going to Sate prison then again he's(or she's) only there a short time and gone again. Mulitply that by 1200 inmates and it's chaos. I've worked mostly in prison. Different from prison to prison. It might be a huge medical prison, then it is much like a hospital. It could be a reception center(1st stop after jail) also transient as most are then assigned to their permenant camp. I've worked a reception center once(whew). I worked a male max for 15 years (loved it till the privates took over and ruined it)I now work at a juvenile state prison.(mostly 17-24y/o's)..We operate much like a clinic with appointments for chronic care, triaging and seeing sick calls., dealing with emergencies(assaults, rapes, injuries, cardiac and resp arrests, routine immunizations, diabetic care and anything else that comes up). Lots of autonomy which is what I like. Each prison has different demographics and size so each is individualized. Great opportunity to utilize and hone every skill you can imagine. Attitudes can be contageous and can lead to unsafe judgements about I/M's complaints so be ever on gurard of assuming or generalizing. Stick with proven assessment skills. Assuming someone is not "complaining in the right way",and therefore must be feigning, can be a deadly mistake. Be prepared for a change in your psyche, being exposed to many sociopaths takes it's toll on your outlook on life.I left after my 1st year because I didn't like how my thinking was going(they must be lying, their lips are moving, what's their ulterior motive? I discovered though that once a cucumber becomes a pickle it can never be a cucumber again. I just had to deal with my attitude and outlook and not let it affect the care I give, so I went back. Fellow staff become like family but don't fall into the habit of making your fellow workers your only social contacts. Their perspectives also begin to get very negative.All in all I love the fact that I have enough time to give quality care to all my patients. Hope this helps some..........

crjnursewarrior · Sep 7, 2005

Everything Sashi48 says is pretty much how things work. I work in a regional jail...between 250-300 inmates at any given time. Like she said they are there, most of them, for a short time, although there are some lifers there awaiting a place to open in prison that have been there as long as I have! I have worked in corrections for 5 years. Twice at the jail I am at now and PRN for awhile at a juvenile correctional facility. I don't really care for the juvenile setting...I still have too much heart left, cannot stand to see children in that environment. Like Sashi said, you do become biased, you have to distance yourself from your patients...have to leave the job at the jail or it will eat you alive. Best wishes! :)

maryk650 · Sep 13, 2005

[ :rotfl: :rotfl: QUOTE=tramalady45]Hello everyone! I am a relatively new nurse. I graduated from college a triple major, Math, Nursing and Administration of Justice. I am interested in the possibility of becoming a nurse for the local Sheriff's Department here in California. Here is my question: What do nurses in this setting typically do on a routine basis, what type of patients do you get, is there violence involved (meaning the nurse -vs-pateint), what are some typical job related tasks, etc? Any information that you could provide me with would be so deeply appreciated. I wanted to be a sheriff's deputy long ago but was injured and had to switch fields so here I am, an RN. So, I figuered that being an RN for the S.O. might be a way for me to still kind of work in a field which I so loved at one point. Thanks to all who reply! :)

There is not a typical day. Most of your day will be doing sick call, setting up and passing meds plus the paperwork and adm duties you will need to keep up to date. H&Ps have to be done on a timely basis, also.

You will probably be safer on this job than any other. There should be a deputy with you at all times that you have contact with an inmate. Knock on wood, I have not been injured in the 7 years that I have been doing corrections. You have a lot of autonomy and flexibility in your scheduling. If you like to be in charge and like making your own decisions, you will like correctional nursing.

wv_doc · Sep 13, 2005

Hey Lady!

You are clearly looking at a career in administration! If you want to get a year in the field, do what you like - nursing, admin, law, but then settle in--

Decide Private or Public. Private may have more money, but less security, public the opposite.

Violence is not an issue for you. You will be a SUIT! You need to think like a SUIT! Unless you want a couple years in the trenches....then you should be a suit. The big private companies pay big bucks for your type, but there is no job security....New Jersey, CMS is looking for managers with your qualifications....???$60-80????? No lifting or HIV exposures.....LW, MD, formerly RN, CNA, Corpsman, etc

Hello everyone! I am a relatively new nurse. I
graduated from college a triple major, Math, Nursing and Administration of Justice. I am interested in the possibility of becoming a nurse for the local Sheriff's Department here in California. Here is my question: What do nurses in this setting typically do on a routine basis, what type of patients do you get, is there violence involved (meaning the nurse -vs-pateint), what are some typical job related tasks, etc? Any information that you could provide me with would be so deeply appreciated. I wanted to be a sheriff's deputy long ago but was injured and had to switch fields so here I am, an RN. So, I figuered that being an RN for the S.O. might be a way for me to still kind of work in a field which I so loved at one point. Thanks to all who reply! :)

bsweilrn · Sep 17, 2005

I like many above left the fast pace of the level 1 trauma center for the solitude (read boring) style of the state prison system.

Like many of the people, my day is generally spent passing meds to the masses, and handling the occasional bump and bruise. Every once in a while, there is exitement which is short lived. :crying2:

The trick is deciding to put your career into a box, and allow yourself to enjoy the time away from nursing with your interests.

I am still working on the first part.

ddc101 · Oct 14, 2005

Great posts.I just took a correctional job at a county facility.Its very tight and security minded.People look at me funny when I tell them where I work.They all think its such a DANGEROUS job.I don't even think about it.

I just want to be the best nurse I can in whatever the situaion.