MiaTrace

@ Katherine, no I wasn't a med surge nurse. In my 13 yrs I've done Rehab, LTC, Homehealth, and my last job was in an outpatient surgery center, only reason I left there is because doctors started retiring, which led to shorter days, unexpected closed days which equaled less income. I chose correctional nursing for job security and good things I've heard from other nurses (income). I have no other job to fall back on right now so I have no choice but to stay for now, maybe things will change, maybe I can tune out the negativity from staff.

Thank you guys for these encouraging words. I actually spoke to another nurse who was in orientation with me and she feels the same exact way that I feel. I'm just relieved its not only me feeling this way

Thank you, I feel like such a failure

It all seemed a little overwhelming for me, the paper work, orders, having to get the meds/insulin pass done with in a certain time. During all that rush you find certain orders were never taken off or certain meds were never ordered. Those are those are things you get "used to" (I guess). It didn't help being around a bunch of negative nurses and COs who seemed so miserable and hated being their themselves. Every job has there down falls and I don't want to discourage anyone else from trying it. That's the main reason why I decided to try because I read a lot of nurses "love it" and it's "easy nursing". I will say the inmates were no problems at all and were very respectful, it was the staff more than anything that made it undesirable for me.

After only 2 weeks of orienting, I discovered Correctional nursing isn't for me. The thought of returning makes my stomach twist in knots. In my 13 years of nursing, I've never gotten into my car after a shift and cried like a baby. I don't wanna leave so soon after only 2 weeks, even tried to communicate with ADON to decrease my time to ( 2 days a week, until I can find another job) she hasn't returned my call. Totally at a lost of what to do because I had so many hopes for this job but I guess the saying is, you either like it or you don't and yes the money and benefits were good but NOT worth my Sanity. Back to job hunting I go, pray for for me please nurse family?

Sorry it took so long to respond. I ordered my clear bag from Clearbags.com. A couple of nurses I oriented with found theirs at Family Dollar (not sure if you have one where you live)

6 years*

I am starting a new job as a correctional nurse next month and I really want to be prepared. Ive been reading assessment skills need to be on point and although I've been pre/post nurse at a GI clinic for the past years, I feel my assessments skills having falling off a little.