New job as correctional RN

Specialties Correctional

Published

Hi everybody.

I need some advice about a position in the booking dept of the county jail. I've interviewed for the job and am hoping for an offer because I'm interested in Forensic Nursing. I have a great PT job that I really like, but would like to try correctional nursing per diem.

The problem is that my husband (and literally everyone else) does not want me to take the job. The DON even offered to have my husband come meet him and have a tour if it would make him feel more comfortable. My husband said he'd go, but that I'm still not taking the job. He actually said "They're gonna keep looking in booking because you are not working there". Any advice? I don't know if a per diem job just for the experience is worth the aggravation.

Thanks!

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Hi everybody.

I need some advice about a position in the booking dept of the county jail. I've interviewed for the job and am hoping for an offer because I'm interested in Forensic Nursing. I have a great PT job that I really like, but would like to try correctional nursing per diem.

The problem is that my husband (and literally everyone else) does not want me to take the job. The DON even offered to have my husband come meet him and have a tour if it would make him feel more comfortable. My husband said he'd go, but that I'm still not taking the job. He actually said "They're gonna keep looking in booking because you are not working there". Any advice? I don't know if a per diem job just for the experience is worth the aggravation.

Thanks!

I use to manage a medical unit in a medium security male prison

(approximately 1300 inmates) and this is one of the

biggest obsticles to hiring new FEMALE nurses...their

spouses, and understandably. Male nurses, no problem.

Some husband never get over

the feeling of risk and the fact

you are around so many males.

That makes it very tough

on the nurse.

If I would have had that

problem, I would not have pursued that

career choice. Going to work

is hard enough, but when someone

is against your placeof employment,

unless you absolutely love it,

it may not be worth the turmoil. IMHO. :)

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Thanks so much! I'll probably take your advice.

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Thanks so much! I'll probably take your advice.

Sure hate to discourage you b/c it is a very rewarding

area! Seeing people, who are considered "trash" to the

majority of our society, receiving competent care is very

encouraging. :)

I just know that most married females really

struggled with spouses (not just medical, but administrative

and security areas) that were opposed to

them working in that setting.

I use to laugh and say,

"Who knows what men do, like other men!"

Simply meaning, are men hesitant b/c they know how

some males would behave when locked away and only a

handful of females around??

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Why not try it for 6 months and see how it goes? I work in hospice now but working in corrections was a very exciting job. I miss it. Maybe if your husband sees that you are still alive after 6 months :idea: he will stop worrying so much. I think working in a state psychiatric hospital is so much more dangerous than working in corrections. Good luck.

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Early in my LE career I worked for a while in the county jail as a CO.

The only time a nurse got hurt was when this one gal decided that the officers used too much force to subdue violent inmates. She had this bright idea to use a blanket and jump on top of the inmate. Said it worked in psych. We let her "show us how it's done" one night. I have to give her credit for courage. She just got her blanket and marched right up to the bad a** and jumped on him like a house spider on a cricket. She got a broken nose out of the deal and after that let us officers do the restraining.

Other than that I'd say corrections is a pretty safe environment for a female nurse. :wink2:

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Specializes in med/surg oncology.

I don't know if it's really worth it for you to fight this battle with your husband, that's between you and him. Depends on why he doesn't want you to work there? Is it because he is scare of what could happen to you? Is it a control issue? or lack of control issue with him? Does he not like the fact you will be around men all day?

I also had resistance from my husband but I did it anyway and I'm glad that I did. I loved correctional nursing from the first day I worked. In my opinion my husband wanted me to do what HE wanted andI wasn't going to give in. Now it's not an issue in our relationship.

If you think about it....you know who not to trust in the prison setting. But you don't know who not to trust in the outside word. There are freaks and psychos all around us everyday and you have no idea who is an ex-con or a future con.

In the prison your safety is #1 and you get to call shots. You always have an officer with you and if there is no officer you wait for one. No one in administration will force you to enter a situation if you don't feel it's safe.

I think that if you try it for 1 week you will know if you like it and want to stay. You will either love it or hate it. Is there a way you could shadow for a day with another nurse before you make your final decision. I'm impressed they offered to show your husband around.

Good luck-

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i'm interested in an RN position at armor correctional health services, inc. in ft lauderdale

how many inmates am i responsible for?

is the salary good?

is the company ok or is it like PHS?

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i didn't get an answer!

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Specializes in Psych, Correctional, LTC and Rehab.

Hi,

It depends on how you feel, I kind of feel like it should be your choice...not to be told...but that's not my business...

Maybe, I should say it like this: it should be your choice to perhaps, realize that it is obviously too much for him...and to say maybe that it is not worth it...?

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