new grad LVN with interview at correctional facility...HELP!

militarymom06 · Jul 29, 2008

First off, congrats on becoming an LPN. It's a long and hard road. Are you sure you want to be a correctional nurse? This is your first nursing job, correct? I was a correctional nurse for 3 years, and that was after I had been a nurse for many years. Yes, the work is very easy, but I will never do it again. The inmates will look for any means to see a nurse, and alot of them, (not all), only want to see a nurse for one reason and one reason only. You didn't specify if it's a men or women facility. With my experience, working in a State Prison for men, it wasn't "fun" and I strongly suggest you think long and hard about doing this. Since this is your first nursing interview, I am "assuming" (yeah, I know what assuming is..LOL), you are young and as far as nursing goes also inexperienced. No, I was never harmed by an inmate, and never touched, but there are other means inmates have to which I really don't want to get into here. If that is the route you decided to take, good luck and always watch your back. You have to keep your eyes open all the time, and most of all you cannot let them intimidate you. They can smell fear a mile away, and if it is a men's prison, they know the moment a female walks in the building even if they can't see her. They can "smell" her. The reason I quit? Several reasons. The pay was lousy. Sure, the benefits were great, but to me it just wasn't worth putting up with. Best of luck on whatever nursing path you choose.

Marisa07 · Jul 29, 2008

Thank you so much for your reply military mom. This is a mens facility that I am applying for and my uncle and a fellow co-worker whom I work with now are former CO's. I grilled them for information on every aspect of it. My uncle was not too keen on it but my co-worker said that with my work ethic I should do very well. I am inexperienced, yes, but I hope being 28 will allow me to make smart decisions, like you had said, with always watching your back and being alert and on your toes at all times. I'm really interested mainly for the experience. Here in California, it has been so difficult to find jobs because of my lack of experience and I have a feeling I'm going to get a lot of it. Please, if you have more feedback, shoot it back to me, both the good and the bad, if you can. I really appreciate your imput!

Marisa07 · Jul 29, 2008

I just realized that as I put that I'm 28, thinking that I'm so experienced and worldly, you must just be dying with laughter!:rotfl: That was pretty funny as I just caught it...

militarymom06 · Jul 29, 2008

When I said "young", I didn't mean a kid. LOL However, you are young both in years and experience. PLEASE don't take that wrong. Remember, I'm from the "older" generation. Never trust anyone UNDER 30. LOL Had to say that, because when I was under 30, it was "never trust anyone over 30". I worked the night shift, along with an RN, and whatever happened with the inmates we had to check it out. The officers were always with them, they never left us alone and were always on their guard about "protecting" the medical staff. That was great, but it didn't take away the possiblities of anything happening. They aren't allowed to tote guns, all they have are their radios and keys. That's it. Anything could have happened, especially as I reflect back on it. Thank God, nothing ever did and actually is very rare that the inmates cause harm to a medical staff member, but you just never know. I can't tell you the countless times I had to go down to the lockdown unit (solitare confinement), because some inmate slashed himself all because his "lover" was moved/transferred. Cutters happened more often than not. Most of the time, it was for attention. Had they really wanted to kill themselves, they would have cut the "right" way. Very few times were there actually "medical" emergencies...MI, seizure's, etc. Yes, a slasher can be a medical emergency, but I think you know what I mean. In the mornings, I had sick call. Inmates would turn in a request to see the nurse, me, for whatever reason.....cold/flu, wanted to see the doctor, actual medical problems, but seems like atleast 50% of the time there would be pervs just wanting to "relief" themselves in front of the nurse. I don't mean urinating either. There are alot of pervs in the prison system, that's why they are prisoners, and it's not because they sang off key in Sunday School. LOL Most of the time, when the inmates were telling me their "medical" problems, there was not an officer with me. It was just me and the inmate, but the door was always left open and officers were walking past my office constantly. I wasn't afraid, ever, but always kept my guard up. LOL........Come to think of it, I got more respect from most of the inmates than I do my own kids. Go figure. It just wasn't for me though. After 3 years, I had had enough of the foul mouths and dirty looks. Alot of times I felt as if I were in prison. Hearing those doors shut behind me, still gives me the "willies". Trust me. I will always stay on the good side of the law. Oh yeah...Listen to your uncle, not the co-worker. No way would I want my daughters working in a prison, or neice.

Marisa07 · Jul 29, 2008

Thank you so much for the reply! My God, the stories you told me...I'm definitely going to think about that. Releiving themselves?!? You must have been mortified and having to keep a straight face...I would have just bawked at the pure action of it! My uncle just wants to make sure that I'm doing it for the right reason and don't plan to stay in it indefinitely. I keep telling him it's just for the experience and not much more...If I do get the position, it will be interesting to see how it goes...But wow, thank you so much for your imput. I really appreciate it! Oh, I was taking no offense to the age thing. As I re-read my response, I was cracking myself up about how "mature" I was trying to play myself as, at being the wise old age of 28! I just hope something comes through...I am gettting stir crazy...and it's making me nuts!! :hdvwl: Hopefully I won't be beating my head against a wall for too much longer...

Thank you so much again!!

militarymom06 · Jul 31, 2008

Just wondering how your interview went? Hope it went well. AND you won't believe this.!!!! I'm GOING BACK to the state prison here. LOL After very much consideration, plus the fact that I am so sick of working in nursing homes, burned out, I've decided to return to the world of the inmates. Can you believe it? LOL I'm getting older, and the work in LTC is just getting to be too much for me. Besides, the benefits are so much better. Keep me posted about your job. GOOD LUCK!!!!