Prison nursing vs jail nursing

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Specializes in Peds, MH, Corrections, School, Tele.

I recently was offered a job with my existing private for-profit company to work full time at a local county jail. Today I found out that CDCR Represa/Folsom is checking my references for potential employment. I have been a jail nurse for 3 years and love what I do. The versatility of my job and the autonomy is what makes me love my job. I am in the dilemma of which job I should take. I know that the CDCR is a state job with excellent long term benefits and my current job also has great benefits and pay, plus I know the job well.

My questions:

1. Why do you love/hate working in a prison?

2. Have you done both and what are the differences?

3. Has anybody recently been employed at Folsom (new) prison and what is the work culture like?

Thank you

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

Following because I'm also curious about the answers. I've only done jail, not prison.

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Hi! I work in a mens state prison and I frickin LOVE it!! I think the difference between nursing in a jail & nursing in a prison is that our inmates have been in the system for a while. We don't have alot of detoxing patients. We don't get people right off the streets. The inmates have been in the system long enough to be relatively stable and to have a medical & drug history (charts!) . I have not worked in a jail, but, for some reason I envision lots of drunks on Sat nights. Prison is more like being a school nurse most of the time. Tylenol & milk of mag.... until they get into the K2 and homemade hooch. We are also getting more heroin and other narcotic abuse lately.

We also have a moderate amt of gang activity...stabbings....lock in a sock head wounds....rapes....psyc emergencies....cutters... It is always interesting! Christmas day we healed a quadrapalegic! In under a 1/2 hr!! "Exploding appendix"? Yup! Fixed em! Every day is a new adventure!

I think it is worth a try. Even if you went PRN at the jail while you try out prison, that way, if you don't like it you can go back to the jail. Either way....GOOD LUCK! Let us know how it goes.

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Specializes in Case Manager/Administrator.

My questions:

1. Why do you love/hate working in a prison?

I enjoy the autonomy I have. with that said I know I have to have great skills otherwise any mistake I make could potentially cause me my license. I like the challenge and like the variety of sometimes unusually inmates who present symptoms/diseases that are unheard of. I like working with male inmates better than female (just my preference)

What I dislike about this environment is the number of people who have axis 2 diagnosis (personality disorders), after the 6th chest pain declared emergency that have been responded to as if the first and finding out he "just wanted to mess with medical" makes one a little jaded. Being aware of your feeling and not acting upon those makes for a good nurse. And yes we did charge a co-pay for each and everyone of those "chest pain" declared emergencies.

2. Have you done both and what are the differences?

I have worked in prisons, Federal Prisons and Jails. I like the Federal prisons where I took care of high profile inmates...nuf said.

Jails have their own uniqueness as they get people right off the street usually and usually under the influence of a substance.

3. Has anybody recently been employed at Folsom (new) prison and what is the work culture like? I did visit Folsom twice and thought to my self it is like a city into itself...a huge city.

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Specializes in Peds, MH, Corrections, School, Tele.

Thanks guys, I accepted the position at the prison and will remain PRN at the jail. My new adventure begins March 13th at the prison. I am very excited and really appreciate your feedback.

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Keep us updated on how it's going! :)

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