New LPN going for correctional nursing.

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Specializes in Correctional and MRDD.

Hi everyone, I am somewhat new to this forum and I enjoy it very much.

I am going for an interview for a correctional facilty LPN job at my local county jail. A couple of my classmates got jobs there too even though we are new grads:p. I have done some volunteering job at a maximum secutity prison when I was living in another state, so I do have a little idea of the environment. I guess my question is, what can I expect from this type of nursing field? I have done some research about it and even thought it might be somewhat dangerous still interest me a lot. As an LPN my chances of getting a decent paying job are slim unless I do LTC, which I am not crazy about. This correctional nursing would be something that I might enjoy doing and it seems that it will pay the bills as well. I would like to hear from those of you who are doing this for a living. Please let me know all the pros and cons. Thanks in advance.

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I can't answer any of your questions. But, I'm also a new LPN grad and just landed a job in a local prison. I am really excited about it! I like that it has elements of social work, advocacy, and varied technical skills. It also offers better pay than other local jobs: base rate is $23/hour with $1.50 differential. I start in a couple of weeks. The people who work there seem great. I would love it if you post how you're doing after you start!

Good luck

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Specializes in Correctional and MRDD.

I am going for the interview tomorrow, so please pray that everything goes OK. I let you know how it goes. Thanks for replying.

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I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

Good luck

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Specializes in Addictions, Corrections, QA/Education.

I am an RN but I can tell you what I do. Actually, I have worked in a state prison and a county detention center. I really like the detention center better than the prison.

There is typically 1 RN and 2 LPNs (and the HSA who is an RN) on day shift.

A typical day goes like this...

I go in and count sharps and narcs. You have to account for all sharps as you can imagine.

Look through the treatment book and see who gets BPs, tx's etc and make my list of who I need to see. Inmates who need to see the nurse sign up for "sick call" and we see those inmates too.

Go see the inmates and triage the ones that signed up. We have protocols that we can follow and determine the need to see the provider.

After that is finished I go back to medical and chart/document of what I did.

I go back to "central booking" and do intakes of newly committed inmates. These are inmates that need to be medically cleared. We do a head to toe assessment with extensive questions to determine wellness/illness. We handle a lot of detox and withdrawals. We usually house detox's in medical. There is tons of psychiatric!

Oh yea... we do have a small medical area for people who we need to observe that cannot be in general population. Suicide watches are in medical.

We have a doctor that comes in Tues-Fri to perform physicals and run clinic. There is a nurse that assists him.

There are different things that happen during the different shifts. You have "all availables" which are fights or a real combative inmate or could be just about anything.

There is more but this is the jist of it at the facility I work in. It can be very busy. You see repeat offenders and lots of interesting things!

We have CMT's that give medications.

Corrections is great area for nurses in my opinion. I really enjoy it.

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Specializes in Addictions, Corrections, QA/Education.

I was nervous at first but not anymore. You just need to be firm and professional. I treat inmates like any other patient I care for. Its no different. You need to be consistent and know your boundaries and make sure the inmate knows these too. Once that "rapport" is established most inmates respect you. Of course you have the ones the do not respect anyone and you shouldn't take it personally.

Some of the inmates are dangerous but you have security and they takes precautions to protect.

Boy could I tell you some stories!:D

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Specializes in Correctional and MRDD.

Thanks a lot for replying with very detailed information. That gives me a good idea of what might be a somewhat typical day at the correctoinal facilty. I really hope I get this job, I think I would really enjoy being a correctional nurse.

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As a LPN my major role is to pass medications. However, we also will note orders, re-new medication orders that are expiring and forward to the provider for review, make sure MARs are current and correct (we still have to hand write them but hopefully not for long), do treatments, draw labs, assist with transfers, do intake, respond to "man downs" and other emergencies (with our RN), and assist the RN with sick call (if needed). Basically at my facility we do a little bit of everything. I wish you the best. Keep us posted if you get the position.......good luck.

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I am also a new LPN, and I had an interview today at our local correctional center. It turns out that they want me! I am really excited about starting there, and I never imagined that I would be working in this field.

To the original poster, I hope your interview went well! It's nice to know that I am not the only newbie jumping into correctional nursing! :)

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Specializes in Correctional and MRDD.

I had the interview yesterday for the PRN LPN position at the justice center in my neighbor county. I believe the inteview went well, I am pretty much hired but the final desicion will be made when they get my background check and drug test results. She said that I should hear from them soon. The down sides are the travel (about 25 miles from where I live plus down town traffic) and the hourly rate. I was expecting a couple dollars more per hour, but I am a new grad. This field interest me a lot. Also they work 8 hour shifts instead of 12th. Which is great for me because I have to small toddler and I am going to school for my RN. I will let you guys know how it goes.

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Specializes in Addictions, Corrections, QA/Education.

Good luck!

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