carleah

I love corrections. I find it's very common to see nurses treat inmates differently than pts. on the outside. If you can resist the temptation to do that, you will do much better. Also, I don't like to know what they did before I treat them, if it was something really bad it makes it harder to be objective. The golden rule applies. As a matter of fact one of our "star nurses" was actually arrested for a domestic dispute (she didnt have to stay) and it happened years ago. What a shock when I saw her "mug shot" that someone showed me.

Glad to know we in corrections are not alone. I thought it was just us that only gets a dinner plate.

I live in Charlotte, and work in corrections. I've seen on Craigs list that Maxim needs corrections nurses and the pay is very good. Working in ED is an excellent foundation. Plus corrections is a good place to work. You have officers there to protect you. I've worked corrections for years and have never been hurt while working inside the prison or jail.

Congratulations! You outdid me. You are the first person I've heard of to take advantage of that as much as I did. I am so grateful for that arrangement. I hope more people will read this post and give Clep a try.

I don't believe I stood out. I don't think enough people applied for the scholarship thinking they wouldn't get it. When they told us to give it a shot I did thinking I have nothing to lose. They had 7 scholarships to give out in a class of about 35 so I figured it was worth a try.

In 2003 I graduated at Westchester Community College. I was taking care of my dad so his pension was not counted as income. I didn't qualify for a Federal Assistance because I was working part time but since I CLEP'd some prerequisites, I only needed about 11 credits per semester. At the time (I don't know about now) the state of NY had a program APTS Aid for part time students (11 credits and under). So I received 2000$ from NYS. I didn't think I would get a scholarship but was encouraged to apply and I did receive a $2000 scholarship from the Commty College. So I didn't pay a dime. CLEP if possible saves money too if you don't mind taking an exam and preparing on your own. I just used the Barrons AP self study books to prepare and I saved going to 5 classes! Don't forget about the Hope Scholarship which is money you receive when you file your taxes: up to $2000 and look into this website that I just found out about. Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program Nursing Loan forgiveness programs vary from state to state as well as the above federal help. Best wishes, Carla

I get out on time about 90% of the time. Most of the nurses here do. If you are organized and not a procrastinator, you shouldn't have a problem.

Try corrections.

Try corrections if you don't get in the hospitals, I live and work in Charlotte and I like my job. Pay is good too, and work not too hard.

Thanks for your replies. I think both responses were correct. Clinically, I don't believe it was a real cardiac issue, and yes you can't always trust the ekg printout. I did get an MD finally and he made sure I did a thorough history. Didn't help that the patient had mental issues beside medical ones. Oh well good practice for sharpening my nursing judgement skills.:tku::tku:

Im' working at a jail and had an inmate come down with chest pain. He has mental issues but cardiac ones too. The MD on call did not answer my call, but I did take an ekg. The automatic reading states accelerated AV junctional rhythm (no atrial activity detected) and states extensive precordial ST elevation, consider acute ischemia. Is this super serious? I know he's had a stroke several years ago. Do I need to call 911?

:up:BTW Corrections makes about $26 hr to start compared to about $22 or $23 hr at the hospitals. The work is easier too!

I work in Charlotte in Corrections Crüe pay is better than the hospitals and your experience is appropriate for the work. At the jail we have some who've worked in the ER before. This is still triage but when they are really sick we just send them to the hospital. I feel safe working here and I've been in corrections for 4 years.

I should add from my hospice days that it is important to get rid of the wound drainage. That is where gauze dsgs are less than optimal. When the wound is packed with an absorbent dressing such as alginate it must be replaced once the dressing is soaked. That may be more often depending on the amount of exudate.

From my experience wet to dry dressings are still widely used at the prison where I've workedin recent years. The CNA's do well with these dressings although they are more labor intensive and take longer to heal. Old habits die hard.

Granulation tissue is the perfused, fibrous connective tissue that replaces a fibrin clot in healing wounds. Granulation tissue typically grows from the base of a wound and is able to fill wounds of almost any size it heals. In addition, it also found in ulcers like oesophageal ulcer. During the proliferative phase of wound healing, granulation tissue is: light red or dark pink in color, being perfused (permeated) with new capillary loops or "buds"; soft to the touch; moist; and bumpy (granular) in appearance.

I've been in corrections about 4years now. The first 2.5 were in state prison facilities and currently in the jail. The jail I have found to be more interesting and challenging. It's because the population changes frequently although we get many frequent fliers. I would suggest a large jail to get the right mix of experience, support,& variety of assignments. It's possible to go into corrections right from school, it depends on whether the facility hires new nurses. Areas to concentrate on are alcohol and drug abuse, mental health issues, std's Sniffing out the fakers but keeping professional, fair and firm. I find it rewarding and challenging. I would definitely recommend it and hope to stay in it until I retire! Hope that helps.

How are you doing on the night shift? Are you adjusting to the schedule yet?

dampeer, I finally got your message about medicaid. From a thread posted earlier about working as an independent. I Decided against it but thanks for your reply. carleah

Yes, Maxim Agency does flu clinics in the fall.

Hi, I live in Westchester NY. I went to Westchester Community College. They have an awesome LPN program. Although I am an RN, several people I know went to the LPN program. It's not too expensive, but you need to take an entrance exam. Any community college would probably be good, if WCC is not convenient. Hope that helps. Carleah

I see from your thread you have experience in wound care. I am a corrections nurse with some wound care background. Most here no the minimum with regard to wound care. Can you direct me to a comprehensive wound care book with lots of illustrations? I may in the future wish to become certified. In the meantime I'd like a good resource book handy. Thanks, carleah

Hi, I am a graduate of WCC and loved it! Since I graduated in 2003 there are more classes to accommodate a larger demand. Still, it is not easy to get in. Some I hear are on a waiting list. I have a friend who went to Cochran and did not do well there. He is an excellent student and was surprised. He transferred to WCC and said it was like day and night. What many do is if they can't get into the rn program, they start with the lpn program and then after the year is over, they continue with the rn program. Hope that info helps. Carleah

I'm getting into agency nursing myself. The biggest one is White Glove. They have good pay rate and advertise the most. My coworker recommended MSN. They do local and travel nursing. I hope that helps.

I interviewed and signed on with MSN today. I heard about them from a work mate who recommended them. The interview went well, and I liked the atmosphere. So far, so good. carleah