Thinking about getting into corrections....

tirzo13 · Sep 30, 2006

you must learn to become detached from the emotions of this job.

they are criminals, never forget it.

they will do what ever they can to get ahead in the prison.

they will sweet talk you, to see if you get touched and give them extra drugs or bring contraband for them.

when the doctor does not reup the MS or T3 or Wellbutrion, guess who they will yell at?

when they miss their narc because of a visit, and you won't give it to them because its too late, or won't give them double next time, guess who they are pissed at?

If you piss someone off bad enough, don't think they won't put a hit on you.

Nurses are easy hits when they have a plan to assault staff.

Now assaults are rare, but they do happen.

Nurse got his jaw broke last week at my prison.

Don't think they can't find your address thru the state board site and the phone book.

they have plenty of contacts on the outside.

they have all day to watch the parking lot to see what car you drive.

Now actually a inner city ER may be more dangerous for a nurse.

but still, you get inner fuzzy at a hospital.

do not get attached to these guys, they will use it against you.

they will talk to you nicer than any man ever has.

they have a reason to do it.

they have plenty of time to work you, most of them ain't going anywhere anytime soon.

course the money is very good!

maryshome8 · Sep 30, 2006

you must learn to become detached from the emotions of this job.
they are criminals, never forget it.
they will do what ever they can to get ahead in the prison.
they will sweet talk you, to see if you get touched and give them extra drugs or bring contraband for them.
when the doctor does not reup the MS or T3 or Wellbutrion, guess who they will yell at?
when they miss their narc because of a visit, and you won't give it to them because its too late, or won't give them double next time, guess who they are pissed at?
If you piss someone off bad enough, don't think they won't put a hit on you.
Nurses are easy hits when they have a plan to assault staff.
Now assaults are rare, but they do happen.
Nurse got his jaw broke last week at my prison.
Don't think they can't find your address thru the state board site and the phone book.
they have plenty of contacts on the outside.
they have all day to watch the parking lot to see what car you drive.
Now actually a inner city ER may be more dangerous for a nurse.
but still, you get inner fuzzy at a hospital.
do not get attached to these guys, they will use it against you.
they will talk to you nicer than any man ever has.
they have a reason to do it.
they have plenty of time to work you, most of them ain't going anywhere anytime soon.
course the money is very good!

This is great advice.

I have a friend that works at the local max security prison as a recreational director...a female.

She said that the hardest part of her job, is to deal with them playing with themselves right in front of her, and making crude sexual comments.

tirzo13 · Sep 30, 2006

yeah, I have seen plenty of inmates masterbating.

the comments are few, CO staff is usually pretty good here.

at my prison if a IM makes comments, cat calls, grabs the croch, they will be dealt with by the officers pretty quick.

I worked at another state prison, where the cops did nothing.

the IM's did all the above when female staff walked to the buildings.

anyway, i like to tell it as it is.

many people sugar coat things, or try to only tell the positives.

prison is a very negative place.

i'd suggest one have some street toughness before working here.

ShortyLPN · Sep 30, 2006

Hey all.

Thanks so much for your honesty. You're right, all everyone says is how much they love it and etc. Now I'm kind of doubting it. Would med. security be as bad as what you previously posted? Thanks again.

HOOSIERNW · Oct 3, 2006

yeah, I have seen plenty of inmates masterbating.
the comments are few, CO staff is usually pretty good here.
at my prison if a IM makes comments, cat calls, grabs the croch, they will be dealt with by the officers pretty quick.
I worked at another state prison, where the cops did nothing.
the IM's did all the above when female staff walked to the buildings.
anyway, i like to tell it as it is.
many people sugar coat things, or try to only tell the positives.
prison is a very negative place.
i'd suggest one have some street toughness before working here.

You tell it like it is and do it so well !!!

louismama · Oct 5, 2006

The biggest suggestion I can give to any nurse wanting to go into corrections is to read a book called Games criminals play, never vary from the suggestions given in this book, Have plenty of OJT, have good diagnostics skills, believe me there really are critically ill pts in jail, as well as good cons, learn to differentiate Have worked in corrections for 12 years, I have never been harmed, give respect and you will receive respect. Always remember where you work. And treat the officers with respect as well, we are considered necessary evils, no one likes healing a child molester or murderer or rapist, but remember we are nurses not the judge jury or executioner. Good Luck, Big Big Plus is the pay.

louismama · Oct 5, 2006

The biggest suggestion I can give to any nurse wanting to go into corrections is to read a book called Games criminals play, never vary from the suggestions given in this book, Have plenty of OJT, have good diagnostics skills, believe me there really are critically ill pts in jail, as well as good cons, learn to differentiate Have worked in corrections for 12 years, I have never been harmed, give respect and you will receive respect. Always remember where you work. And treat the officers with respect as well, we are considered necessary evils, no one likes healing a child molester or murderer or rapist, but remember we are nurses not the judge jury or executioner. Good Luck, Big Big Plus is the pay.

ex1140 · Oct 24, 2006

The biggest suggestion I can give to any nurse wanting to go into corrections is to read a book called Games criminals play, never vary from the suggestions given in this book, Have plenty of OJT, have good diagnostics skills, believe me there really are critically ill pts in jail, as well as good cons, learn to differentiate Have worked in corrections for 12 years, I have never been harmed, give respect and you will receive respect. Always remember where you work. And treat the officers with respect as well, we are considered necessary evils, no one likes healing a child molester or murderer or rapist, but remember we are nurses not the judge jury or executioner. Good Luck, Big Big Plus is the pay.

Haven't read the book, but good advise... give respect and you'll get it.

As I have stated before being assertive is necessary no matter what area a nurse works in...

Nur_1996 · Oct 25, 2006

I need to read that book, I have only been in corrections for a couple months, and due to a lack of security, I have felt like I may have to change jobs. I was left alone with a inmate on more than one occasion, I don't want to deal with that problem again, but my boss dosent back up the nurses. They are having a hard time keeping staff,now I see why.

tirzo13 · Oct 25, 2006

yeah, should not be alone with a patient.

should have a CO with you.

that is the way it should be, but often you can't find one, or they are chilling someplace.

They know they are supposed to escort you, but you have to really get after some of them to do the job.

I don't want to knock CO's, because they will save your butt sometime, but still, getting them to do part of their job is bothersome sometimes.

as far as giving respect, and getting it back.

that is more or less somewhat true.

but they have a different idea of respect.

their idea of respect is giving them meds when they want it.

their idea of respect is sending them to an outside hospital when you triage and assess that it is not warranted.

you can treat them with respect, but they will still yell at you and call you names and threaten to 602 you.

so giving respect SOMETIMES gets you respect back.

it depends what level they are.

level 3's are usually respectful, they don't want to lose what they got.

they just want to do the time and get out.

level 4's or adseg guys don't give a damn what happens to them, they often have nothing to lose.

i doubt they respected the person that they harmed to get into prison.

i'm sure the person that they harmed on the outside did nothing to them, gave them all the respect in the world.

they have a different idea of respect, so you can treat them with respect, but you may not get it back.

alot of these guys, even though they are convicts, have a sense of entitlement and act like they are superior.

jamangel · Oct 25, 2006

I have never been left alone with an inmate -EVER. I'm sure it happens but I don't allow it. I notice that the jails are a bit stricter here than the prisons. Maybe you should try your county jail