Foxy78

^We don't wear ID badges, but it is very easy for them to find out your name. For instance, every time I submit an incident or a disciplinary report on an IM, my name is listed on it and the IM gets a copy of it per policy. They also can request their medical records (nurses notes, etc). If just 1 inmate finds out your name, you can pretty much assume they all know it. As for protecting myself at home, I'll have to admit I have gotten more conscientious about making sure the doors and windows are locked. I'm not paranoid and definitely don't loose sleep over my job, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious. I'd like to get a gun, but the wife says absolutely not, haha. I will probably get a dog though. Although many inmates have made threats to staff or intimated that they know where staff members live, I know of only 1 instance where something actually happened and that was quite a few years ago. A bunch of gang members showed up at a CO's house, but nothing actually happened, the police showed up and defused the situation.

I'd say it definitely does. Going into a prison shows you a side of humanity (if you can even call it that) that you will not see anywhere else. I have thick skin and I try not to let things get in the way of doing my job. But I'll be honest with you, its hard sometimes to come home and chit-chat with my wife and have cuddle time after an IM describes to me in graphic detail what he would do to me, my wife, and my kids. Sure, what the inmates say is just words. And most of the time their words are the only weapons they have and the only thing they have to try to control and influence their environment. But when you hear that kind of talk over and over again, day after day, it can get to you at times. I'm fairly new to corrections and I can already tell that it will be a challenge to leave work at work when I come home. Its a tough job and its definitely not for everyone. Whether its for me or not, I guess time will tell.

^The whole process took about 6 weeks. It was kind of frustrating because despite being told verbally that I had the position from 3 different people, it took FOREVER to get my offer letter. Anyway, I'm glad it all worked out though.

Personally, I'd rather not know what crimes an inmate has committed. It really has nothing to do with the job I am there to do and besides, knowing their crimes might affect the care I give to them. Of course this isn't always possible as there are 'high-profile' IM's who have been in the news for their crimes and what not. I do want to know if the IM has been known to attack prison staff members though.

Starting my 1st correctional nursing position next month, at a medium security men's facility. I don't think anyone has been so excited to go to prison, hahaha. Just wanted to say a big THANKS to everyone who contributes to this board. I researched corrections nursing a LOT over the last few months and I found 99% of the answers to my questions right here on this board. Have been in med-surg for 2 and 1 quarter years now and am absoluetly thrilled to be starting this new chapter in my career. Thanks again everyone and I'll be sure to stay in touch and offer my own experience on this board as well.

So I interviewed for a position at a maximum security prison last week. The position is evenings in the DDU (aka SHU or ad-seg for some of you in other states). A couple of nights ago, I went in and shadowed the nurse from 7-11P. I saw and heard quite a few things that bothered me. I've been reading this board for awhile - from what you guys have said, yes you are going to have to deal with a certain amount of very bad behavior in corrections. But I saw a few things security wise that made me worry. From what you all have said, you feel more or less safe at your places of work. I'd like you guys to read this and tell me if these things are the norm or if the place I interviewed at is an exception and probably an unsafe place to work. 1. Some of the CO's seemed a little too friendly with the inmates. Passing along a message from an inmate in the general population to an inmate in the DDU for example. 2. The CO's were all so YOUNG. Many of them looked just out of high school. I thought to myself 'how are they supposed to control violent criminlas 3 times their size??' 3. It seems like the staff ignored some inmate behavior that was clearly against the rules. Like 2 inmates were passing a manilla folder to each other underneath their cell doors right in front of their eyes and they did nothing about it. Who knows what could be in that folder... From what I have read, one of the important things in maintaining control of prisoners is to enforce the minor rules violations. 4. Everywhere we went, I was advised to whisper. Supposedly the inmates listen through the heating ducts and what not and some of the staff had gotten threats, phone calls, etc at home from being able to obtain the staff's personal info. When I asked if they had ever been assaulted at home, they seemed reluctant to answer. 5. Here's the kicker: The nurse I am supposed to replace was only in her 30's and had died under somewhat mysterious circumstances. I was told "she fell asleep and never woke up". One of the inmates said "she was messing with that heroin". 6. A lot of assaults on staff at this place and many of them in the DDU. Quite a few stabbings. Google connected me to some local new stories. Also, apparently the computer control system that opens the inmates cell doors has malfunctioned before and caused the worng cell door to accidentally open (yikes!). 7. The nurse I shadowed was told not to intervene if he saw an inmate attacking another staff. Well, one day he witnessed an inmate stabbing a CO who was alone. He did what he was told and did not intervene. After that he was frowned upon and harrassed by the CO's for not intervening. 8. Seems like leadership at this place changes hands a lot. No a good sign imo. So is this the NORM in correctional facilities?

I think getting away from females is the sole reason I looked into corrections nursing in the first place, lol (sorry ladies, but there is only so much female chit-chat a man can take!)

BTW I'm 6'2", 250 lbs, mostly muscle. Went for my 1st interview at a maximum facility the other day. The DON walked me into one of the blocks, I think just to test my reaction. The inmates had their little mirrors through the bars to see who was coming. When we got back into the hallway, he said "Gee, thats the first time I've walked anyone in there and they haven't shouted something at them". Then when I met the infection control nurse, he gripped my hand tight and said "big guy, alright, when ya starting?" Funny, seems like everyone I met had this attitude of 'he's big, hire him!' Not going to let my size make me overconfident though, believe me, not for a second. Like someone above said, inmates are likely to attack ANYone, regardless of size, age, physical characteristics, etc. and they aren't afraid to do it. In fact, I think some of them go after the bigger targets on purpose because it boosts their status more among their peers. Overall, i think mental toughness will get you much farther than size and physical features

I watched a national geo program (believe it was called 'Lockdown') and one of the guards at the supermax facility was 5'2" and female. I think that was one of the things that really made me finally say "I can do corrections". Because if she can do her job and not be intimidated, then so can i!

Thanks for the replys guys. Just to update you: I interviewed at both facilities today. They were both very different and each had its ups and downs. I'm really on the fence here about which one to go with (so far it sounds like I'll be getting offers from both). Anyway, I am going to go back to each prison and shadow a nurse for a few hours to really get a sense of what their day is like.

I should point out too that since these facilities have been built, there has not been a significant reduction in violence within our prisons - part of the purpose of these facilities was to reduce violence among the general prison population. Ultimately this is an issue that is going to effect our communities outside prison walls. And I don't know about your state, but a lot of community-based mental health services have been cut here.

Been reading a lot about these types of units as I find the topic interesting. From the literature out there, it seems that 99% of it says that they do more harm than good. It has been well documented that placing someone into a small room for 23 hours a day and severly limiting their human contact, as well as sensory stimuli, can have some serious negative effects on mental health. And most prisoners in these types of units will eventually be released back into society some day. Whats scary is a lot of them go directly from solitary to the street, sometimes after being there for years. Also, they have little oppurtunity for any kind of rehabilitation programs while confined in isolation. I agree that some inmates truly belong in isolation units. The safety of the staff and other inmates should always come first. But the problem is (again, from what I have read) that these units are often housing prisoners who do not qualify as 'the worst of the worst'. During the 'get tougher on crime' era of the 90's, our federal and state goverments spent big bucks to build supermax prisons and isolation units - designed specifically to confine the 'worst of the worst'. Well guess what - it turns out maybe we didn't need to build all of those cells after all. But to justify the cost of all those tax dollars, they are pressured to fill these facilities to capacity. It seems that the reality of many of these units and facilities is that they become a dumping ground for inmates that no one else wants to deal with; particularly the mentally ill. While in isolation, many inmates are simply 'warehoused'. They are not provided with any oppurtunities for education or training. They have almost no contact with their families or ANYONE for that matter. In fact, many of these facilities were purposely built in areas that are hundreds of miles from civilization. Even if the family wants to visit, they often cannot afford the trip. Sane inmates begin to show signs of acute mental illness. And mentally ill inmates become more mentally ill. It is well-documented in the research literature. Some people might think "they are inmates - who cares?" But the problem is that many of these inmates could be our neighbours someday. Sure we are not corrections workers in the same sense that officers and wardens are. We are healthcare professionals. But as healthcare professionals, shouldn't we advocate for our patient's physical and mental health? I'm just curious to see what you all have to say about this and what experiences you've had. And again, I'm not saying that there aren't prisoners who belong in isolation because some of them definitely do. I realize too that I am basing all of this from what I have read (from many, many sources). I have yet to work in corrections (1st interview next week) and I have not been in your shoes yet. Just wondering if anyone has felt conflicted as far as ethics regarding this.

Hi guys. Been reading this forum on and off for a couple of weeks and its been GREAT, 99% of my questions have been answered just from reading. I've been an RN in med-surg at a major hospital for a little over 2 years now and am very interested in corrections. Anyway, there's currently 2 positions I am looking at: One is in a medium security prison and the other in a maximum security (which also has an ad-seg/supermax unit within it). Am just wondering which to go with... I was thinking the medium might be better starting off because to me the 'medium' part means that the inmates are generally less violent. But then I'm thinking maybe the maximum might be MORE safe because the security is porbably tighter. Anyway, I'm very excited to be going into corrections nursing and thanks to all for sharing your wisdom!