I have been working as an RN in the emergency department of a level 1 trauma center for 2 years. I started a new job at a max security prison in the clinic this week and would like to share some of my thoughts on it.
1) I'm really surprised by how polite/professional all of the inmates have been. I deal with more attitude in 2 hours in the emergency department than I have in a week in the prison. I have not yet dealt with any manipulative behavior, but am sure it will come. I've just tried to be nice without being too nice. I'm trying not to be too naive or trusting, but when I find out what some of the inmates have done I'm usually really surprised because they're so polite. I don't feel scared of them and I'm wondering if thats a bad thing or a good thing
2) I don't think I'll ever get used to going to seg. It's obnoxious and a little scary. The nurse I was training with would actually respond to the comments inmates would yell at her from seg. I feel like its probably best to just ignore it.
3) We do "insulin line" where the inmates come in 1 by 1 and you draw up their insulin and let them check their blood sugars and give themselves insulin. I feel like its a med error waiting to happen- giving the wrong amount or type of insulin or reading the wrong person's order. Is this how most prisons do it? I'm used to a hospital setting where you can't even give insulin without having a second nurse check your order.
4) There is not as much physical security presence as I expected. Officers come and go from the clinic, but are only constantly there during insulin line. Is this normal?
5) My husband is being a complete jerk about me working there. He gave me his blessing before I took the job, but now can't get over it. I think maybe he though I would spend a day there and hate it. I love my new job and am so frustrated he can't share my happiness.
6) I was not all that impressed with some of the nurses there and don't feel like I'll necessarily be "accepted" by them. I'm one of the only RNs working there and one of the more experienced there as well. I'm not sure why, but I feel that they don't like me. As this is only a PRN job, I really don't care. A couple of the nurses were downright nasty to the patients and others were waaaay overly friendly
7) Overall, I think I will really enjoy it and can make a difference there, I just need to get the hang of it. Thanks for listening to my thoughts!
