Things I should ask during an interview at prison

Kudos on 3 interviews this week! I'm hopeful that one will be a good match for you. I always advise that you be observant of the security operations during your interview to affirm that the environment you will work in takes your safety seriously. A good entry evaluation and plenty of officers in the healthcare area indicates safety. Look for a good relationship between healthcare and security staff. Are they courteous or abrupt with each other? All things considered, go with the position that has the best working relationship with the officers. Usually that means a better running, more effective operation.

It is always a good idea to ask about orientation to the security environment and the nursing functions of the position. They know you are new to corrections and wanting a good orientation is always positive.

Sometimes nurses coming to corrections from LTC can come across too 'touchy-feely' for the corrections environment. Think about ways to identify that you know the patient population is different and that you will need to alter your 'caring' behaviors to match the new environment. Ask for suggestions as to how to quickly accomplish this.

About your bra: Yes, it may alarm the detector. In that case, they would bring out a female officer to pat you down. Can be embarrassing and time consuming. You may want to invest in a new bra for the interview. If you are serious about corrections, it will be a good investment. Since I'm not as well-endowed as you, I don't know if you even have another alternative to under-wire (LOL), but maybe others on this list have experience to share with you.

I am not able to list my website on this forum, but if you look at my profile you will find my link. I have a job interview section that you might find helpful and also some information to help you ramp-up quickly on the patient population.

Best regards on the interviews and let us know the outcomes,

Lorry

Hello everyone

I have three upcoming interviews this week for correctional nursing positions in the northeast. I've only been a nurse in LTC for five months but I have my BSN and previous experience in psych during nursing school. I originally wanted to work in a hospital setting I would love to "pay my dues" doing that infamous 1 year of med surg but the hospitals around here aren't exactly hiring anyone without existing acute care experience.

Corrections nursing seems interesting so I might give it a shot. I was lucky to get that job that I have in the nursing home but it's not where I see myself in the future and (I don't know how safe my license will be working there as things are right now).

So what should I ask them? I can't have no questions during an interview, but I have never even been inside a prison before. One is the women's prison, one is a level 3, and one is a level 4 ; the information about the prisons on the state website is minimal at best.

Also is it true that an under-wire bra will set off the metal detector? I am kind of big busted and really only have under-wire bras. Only one of the places said that i shouldn't wear anything with metal in it but the woman didn't specify, she just said that once her shoes set off the detector; but I've gone through metal detectors at the air port without any problems.

Anyways would be really embarrassing having to go through a professional interview without wearing a bra.

thanks everyone

how was your interview? what type of questions did they ask? goodluck!

Thanks for your responses. I've had two interviews so far. The first one at the women's prison went well she asked me the general what are your strengths and weakness? why do you want to work corrections? why did you want to be a nurse? do you have a biases towards inmates? what is your past work history? what are you most proud of as a nurse? She told me the very good atmosphere low security, and that they would never fault me for sending someone to the ER. that the women really only want to talk to you...Pretty good atmosphere. I met the overnight nurses and they are all very close knit.

the other interview, if that's what you can call it went very differently. He basically gave me a very honest 20 min speech on what I could expect working there. It's basically a detention facility most of the over 1,000 inmates are pre-trail so they basically come off the streets and you have to figure out what their health problems and medications are. He said that I'm qualified because anyone with an RN is "Qualified" for this job.

Everything is videotaped. He then went to told me how i need to be able to know if people are "faking it" because it waste huge amounts of tax dollars having inmates go to the ER for no reason. Also that I would be running codes as I will most likely the only RN there. Really not ready for that yet! I've only seen a code in nursing school and needless to say I wasn't very involved in that.. Well I did take an 02 sat a few times and moved things out of the way for everyone.

He didn't ask me any questions and told me that they don't consider any of his choices anyways and because of their backwards way of picking applicants and he doesn't know who is hired until they walk through the door on their first day.

thanks but no thanks!

You are very observant to recognize the red flags of this last interview. Vast differences in the hiring processes eh?