New RN student thinking of which path to follow

I have known a few people who have worked as nurses in correctional facilities. Some of them loved it and some of them hated it. I think it all comes down to the individual person. I work in an ED at a hospital that has a contract with the state DOC to provide health care to inmates, so we see our fair share of them. I personally have not had any problems with any of them. In fact some of the nicest patients I have had have been inmates, but you learn quickly that it is not always genuine. Most of them are smooth talkers trying to manipulate you to get what they want. In my opinion I would focus on being a student right now. Focus on learning the core and fundamentals of nursing that you carry with you no matter what path you take. It is like someone told me one time "you have to bake the cake before you start putting on the icing". Good Luck!

You don't get an RN via a degree - you get your RN after passing NCLEX. Your degree will be ADN, BSN, etc.... just to clarify.

I agree with the PP. During your program, you will have a chance to 'taste' many different types of clinical environments. You'll probably discover that there is an area that you really love. Colleagues in correctional nursing (prison) environments have told me that it is rapidly becoming very geriatric & that short-term corrections nursing is primarily focused on addiction these days.