New RN to corrections

Specialties Correctional

Published

Hi, I am new to corrections. Just started work @ a max male prison. Frankly I'm scared to death. Any words of wisdom? I am a very quiet, non-aggressive person...help!

Pretty sure in prison lingo they are refering to the newly admitted I/Ms. I am in my first semester of an ASN program and feel a little like "Fresh Fish" right now myself.:trout:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Psych..

Hi everyone:

I am also thinking about working in a prison in California. Currently I work in a Kaiser Hospital...the pay is really good but not as good as the prison system....I also got one of those letters that the California correction send you if you pass that exam on line...I am very tempted to apply for this position but I am partified....all my friends at work tell me I shouldn't apply...that I would get killed or get raped....so on...does anyone have any info about California Institution for Men, Chino California?? Is it a scary place to work?? I have till 21st Nov 07 to make up my mind!! I am very confused...:(

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Hem/Onc/Psyc.

So...for all the nurses working in corrections, what training do you suggest? I am interested in nursing in corrections here in Ohio, where they are waiving the 6 month nursing experience in order to get more nurses. However, I am wondering if I will be able to master the skills as an RN in this setting. I graduate this July from nursing school. People/teachers have told me that they could see me doing corrections b/c I have that assertive mentality. Do you think I should get some years experience under my belt before going to corrections?

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I've only been an RN for about a year, not quite a year yet. I worked on Medsurg for 8 months then went to ob for a month. I got called by some staffing agency offering me a job in a prison. When they told me the pay i jumped on it, heck it was 10 bucks more an hour than i was making. The job bores me to tears. I'm locked in a cell 8 hours a day, i get out twice for two 5 minute breaks,dont' even get lunch, i pass pills all freakin day. I do get to go to seg occassionally when they have med alerts, which are a guy faking everything known to man, or someone slipping and falling. So far nothing too exciting has happened. The people (nurses) i work with are great, i love em, most of the guards are great, of course you have the jackass guards who get pissed because the new girl takes 20 minutes longer to pass the pills because god for bid we have to ask the IM their name and number, because we are searching through bins of bubble packs of pills. It's not easy like the hospital you put your finger on a computer and the drawer pops open to dispense the med you need, oh no you have bins and bins of pills, and half the time the inmates pills arent there and so then off to search for the pill you need through all these freakin pills lol. drives ya nuts. The IM are nice enough, never had a problem with them, but i think i'm going back to hospital nursing just for the experience, i'm not saying after i've been in a hospital for 10 years i wont go back to prison nursing because i'm sure i will, i just am afraid of losing my skills right now, i'm new, and feel i need to learn how to be a hospital nurse, learn my skills, feel confident in them before i continue iwth this job where i don't use hardly any. oh yeah in a hospital if you've never heard of a med you can look it up, oh in a prison you look it up after you give it, if you have time. Oh and btw, going through a staffing agency they pay 5 bucks more an hour than getting hired right in to the prison, and you get the same bennefits, :) i know some nurses hate this but heck its christmas time, i needed all the extra money i can get :)

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Nursing Education, LTC, and HHC.
i've got three too lol.........third one wasnt a charm like they say...so maybe the fourth one?

hi cowgirl:

I am working on hubby four! LOL

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Specializes in name it.

Ive been in corrections for a while and am having my first real probrem. I had an abusive husband of 5 yrs. break my arm last November. It was a serious break that required 2 surgeries b/c my humerus and elbow were shattered. I got rid of him!!

I thought I was ok until I went back to work. Most of the inmates were wondering where I was and cared about me, but the 1% that are jerks are really getting to me. Their horrible comments seem to stay in my head and I know its b/c of what happened- I dont want to lose my job and sincerely love working in corrections-- any thoughts? I have always had a professional and tough nature- they never used to get to me. Now Im not doing so well- I would love to hear some thoughts on this!

Thanks!

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Ive been in corrections for a while and am having my first real probrem. I had an abusive husband of 5 yrs. break my arm last November. It was a serious break that required 2 surgeries b/c my humerus and elbow were shattered. I got rid of him!!

I thought I was ok until I went back to work. Most of the inmates were wondering where I was and cared about me, but the 1% that are jerks are really getting to me. Their horrible comments seem to stay in my head and I know its b/c of what happened- I dont want to lose my job and sincerely love working in corrections-- any thoughts? I have always had a professional and tough nature- they never used to get to me. Now Im not doing so well- I would love to hear some thoughts on this!

Thanks!

Sounds like the IM's know too much personal. But beyond that remember that the ones that are jerks about it are just pros at being....jerks!

They're there because they are manipulators that enjoy other people's misery. The real good thing to do is alwyas show them a strong side and be sarcastic, usually that tends to make them back off.

When I've been in that situation and one is giving a hard time - they find out who is in control at med pass: either I make them unsure at med pass - "remember buddy - I handle your meds" or I'm very sarcastic and make them toe the line. At least where I worked the rule was they must present their ID card. If they gave me flak, it was back of the line and stop the line until they complied. If it didn't make them better, it shut them up.

I'm not saying it's easy for you, but for yourself you might need to cultivate your "jerk factor".

I hope you find what works for you well.

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Specializes in name it.

Fizz-

Thanks for your reply. I didnt want the "real" story to get passed around b/c I knew the flack I would get- but the other shift just couldnt keep it quiet!! Girls will be girls..!! I am usually so tough but it seems like I cant handle the abusive remarks right now. They seem to keep going in my head even after I leave work, so of course I dread going back. I was never like that before. Thanks for your input!!

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Hi Barbara and welcome to the strange world of corrections! I have been in it for 17 yrs now. 3 words that to this day have helped me....be fair, firm and most important..consistant! The i/m's will watch you like a hawk. Also not sure if this book is still in publication/available but the title is The Games Inmates Play. Everything in this book an i/m did/tried to do to me.

And Joe I was SOOOO looking forward to that Wal Mart job but now my hopes are shattered :D Joan

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Hi Barbara and welcome to the strange world of corrections! I have been in it for 17 yrs now. 3 words that to this day have helped me....be fair, firm and most important..consistant! The i/m's will watch you like a hawk. Also not sure if this book is still in publication/available but the title is The Games Inmates Play. Everything in this book an i/m did/tried to do to me.

And Joe I was SOOOO looking forward to that Wal Mart job but now my hopes are shattered :D Joan

Oh yeah, "Games Criminals play", that book is the best!

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