Prison nursing vs psych nursing

[Jmarty31]

I'm currently a nursing student and I'm wondering about psych nursing vs prison nursing, which would you say is more difficult? I've volunteered at an ER before and seen psych and prisoners. Both seem like interesting fields and I'm curious as to experiences and stories from either. Thank you!

[RNinOH4]

I'm currently trying to decide between psych nursing on a forensic unit at a state facility or a women's prison without an infirmary. I've been a nurse for one year and worked in med surge and home health nursing. I've always had an affinity for psych however I've had one for criminal justice too. I feel like I can be compassionate to inmates yet fair and I really don't know what to expect from the forensic unit. How do nurses help those who need to become competent to stand trial? Do you have any advice for me?

[yhl1975]

How do nurses help those who need to become competent to stand trial? Nurses scope of practice is all connected to patient education ,but not to advising to the trail .The patient education done by evidence based practice. The nurse in forensic unit needs to make sure that the client is not hungry, physically clean , dressed and safe to himself and others.The lawyer needs "to prepare " the client for the trail. This is his paid job , since he knows in what case what will be asked and how it will be sound in the court system.

[SheriffLauren]

I've worked with a good number of forensic patients. Many of them need counseling/education on basic life skills and also should be taking some medication, though not always. Some are detoxing too, provide education based on the patient and left them know about their legal status. Alot of the times people who come in from court are very mistrusting so I think it's always good to be truthful and to be direct, but not harsh.

[PG2018]

You can't be touchy feely with an inmate, but otherwise the processes are very similar. The transition from one to another is seamless. I've done both sort of. I managed the infirmary and health services at a jail and I was an assessment coordinator in inpatient psych along with being a psych staff nurse for a couple months.