Prision Nursing Questions

roser13, ASN, RN · Jul 2, 2010

I am not and have never been a prison nurse. So technically, I do not qualify to answer your questions. However, having nursing friends who have been/are prison nurses, I will venture to give my opinion anyway.

No, you will not learn very many transferrable skills.

Yes, you will often feel unsafe.

No, prison nursing is not a place for a young (who looks even younger), next-to-new nurse.

WittySarcasm, BSN · Jul 2, 2010

Oh no thank you so much for your reply. I'm sure you know a lot from your friends. But thank you so much!

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Jul 2, 2010

I did work in a prison for almost a year. I agree with the first post. I'm a big male, so every prisoner felt like they had to challenge me. Really sucked. Over 500 men, almost all had a temporary label as "situational homosexuality." The women were able to finesse them much better than I, but all were middle age and well overweight. They acknowledged that to these 500 men they were like Miss July 2010. Anybody taken hostage is considered already dead when it came time to re-establish security. They'd hope to save you, but that's a secondary priority. There was a class action lawsuit against the state at the time. The prisoners wanted MORE guards because they didn't feel safe in the prison (they weren't). Medium security facility, I treated the same guy for heroin overdose 3 times in 10 months. Day 1 they told me if I was going to quit, just walk out. The prisoners clean the wardens office, and if a prisoner felt like he only had a little time to teach you a lesson, you're screwed if you gave 2 weeks notice. Prisons are run with tight budgets. Heard enough?

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2010

I too have never worked in a prison, but there are three in a 75 mile radius where I live. I know nurses who work in prisons

I agree with everything roser 13 posted.

You will not develop any nursing skills that will make you a better acute care nurse. At least that's my opinion.

The upside is, if it's a state or federal job, the pay scale can be several dollars more an hour than in a hospital. Retirement after 20 years.

I thought it interesting that an ex-prison nurse I worked with in the hospital, thought we as nurses were professional because we didn't say f@#$ every other word.

Batman25 · Jul 2, 2010

Hi. There's a whole forum for Correctional Nursing. I think it will help you. Click on the link provided. :)

https://allnurses.com/correctional-nursing/

nursebelle1386 · Jul 2, 2010

Greetings, I am I guess you would say a "new grad" nurse. I got my license last August but I have been working in the prison setting for the last 7 months as the"RN Charge Nurse". At times I love it, at times I hate it. I am the youngest nurse on the floor (24 YO) and female. I believe as a new grad I am doing well. Of course I would prefer a hospital job but we all know those are scarce. The skills and knowledge you gain will all depend on you in this type of setting. Take advantage of more seasoned nurses and doctors that you work with, pick their brains for all the knowledge you can get! I have learned FAR MORE than I ever thought I would in this setting. Always remember that safety and security is always first! Hope this helps

katkonk, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2010

WOW, I am shocked at how many responded that know absolutely nothing about corrections nursing. That would be like me commenting to someone asking questions about what it is like to work in NNICU! First, as another post already mentioned, there are scores of threads discussing everything you have asked at length under the special "corrections" nursing. As far as the "large male's" comments, well that is not the norm. And working there is not all about whether there are sexual undertones to this or that, and if you bring attitude toward the offenders in the door with you, you will likely not have a good time working in corrections. There are good days, bad days, really horrible days...just like anywhere else. Yes, many skills are transferrable to the hospital setting, but it depends on what your job duties at the prison are. Great career, but NOT for the timid.

Scarlette Wings · Jul 2, 2010

i worked at the juvenile correction facility when i first moved. prison nursing is a unique type of nursing that is for sure. we did not have inpatient skilled care so if a resident needed actual "nursing care" they were sent to the hospital the state had contracted with. the skills used when i worked there consisted of performing physical and psychosocial assessments. we performed tests for tb, pregnancy, hearing, vision, and other tests much like the public health department. nursing was also expected to pass medications and do "clinic" activities whenever a resident filled out a "sick call slip."

nurses were also expected to attend to any resident that was involved in an altercation or had been harmed by either his/her own actions or the behavior of another person. the job required working with children and adolescents ages 8 to 18, male and female. most activity was performing sick call, doing the admission assessments, and medication passes. it was certainly challenging and you had to have a very wide comfort zone for fences, locked doors, and razor wire.

guards are not always around and with teens you never know what stunt they will pull next because they are bored, angry, or just want to see if they can push the guard's buttons. fights and altercations do occur and nurses have to assess any resident being disciplined for safety. it is either your cup of tea and you love it or you hate it. my head nurse and a friend of mine in an adult male prison that provided inpatient skilled care absolutely loved it. i felt like i wasn't nursing but running a juvenile day care clinic so for me it was not the best choice and i found another position in a hospital.

safety is an issue and anything and everything can be used as a weapon. you have to have a poker face and cannot let any comment, threat, or string of four letter words bother you. guards are not always in the same location that you and the prisoners are and in reality you are totally outnumbered. i would say try it because you do not know what you will fall in love with unless you do. hope this helped.

WittySarcasm, BSN · Jul 3, 2010

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who replied. Thank you everyone! It was so helpful!

jenn2751 · Jul 6, 2010

hi, i have an interview in corcoran tomorrow at the prison for an RN position. is there any questions u remember or tips u can give me? thank u so much. i have had my license for 5 months and cannot find a job. it is hard right now. anything will help. thanks!