To the bedside, or correctional facility?

[mom35]

Hi fellow nurses, I graduated in May 2011 and attained RN license in June. I in Dallas TX and have to relocate due to extremely saturated market. I have a prospective position as an RN at a corrections facility that starts out, even new grads. at 30/hr. I will be waiting for the background-security clearance to go through for at least five more weeks. My dilemma is, I also have some hospitals calling and wanting to interview me via phone. Let us say that I am offered a position at one of these hospitals within one or two weeks from now, yet the corrections job is still involved in background clearance. What am I to do. Do I wait for the corrections job and take a gamble on not being offered the position, and decline the hospital/bedside position? Or, if a hospital offers me a position before the background clearance is completed at correctional facility, do I take hospital job and forget about corrections? I am almost 40 and I really love the psychiatric aspect of correctional nursing. I would love to eventually go into psychiatric nursing and research. Not only that, but bedside nursing /hospital nursing here in TX would start out at around 21-25/hr. and correctional facility starts at 30. If I were much younger I would say that I should start at the bedside, and then after a few years go into corrections and psychiatry, but I need to keep in mind that I need to make smart career decisions right now. I need feed back and input from you guys! I really appreciate any feedback:nurse::redbeathe:nurse:

[Cathy26]

if you are interested in psych than correctional nursing is the place to be. i work at a small facility, aprox 300 inmates, and about 60% of our population is on mental health medications. the problem is that access to MH professionals is very limited. we have a mid-level (psychologist) 8 hrs a week, and a psychyatrist (via tele-psych) 2 hrs a week. its no fun deciding whos worse and who does or doesnt get to see MH... but we make due. on another note, Ive been in correctional nursing about a year and a half, since i became a nurse, ive never worked anywhere but correctional....ive always wanted to work in this setting...i have no desire to work in a hospital or doctors office....my point is you dont NEED hospital experience first....its all about whats in your heart. but dont do it just for the money, i promise you will earn EVERY PENNY you make! its a difficult job and can be very stressful... you have alot of responsibility in a correctional setting. good luck to you, whatever you choose!

[mom35]

UPDATE FROM OP:

Well, I received a letter from the correctional facility that I interviewed with. It said I was not chosen for the position. I could really kick myself!! I turned down three other interviews thinking that this was a sure thing. I will allow myself a couple of hours to sulk, and then I must continue with my search-back to the drawing board:crying2:

[MrsMig, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry to hear that possible consideration was passed by...that suxs!

I have read the others input and really, you received a considerable amount of info. I, fortunately, am a recent grad - LPN - and have obtained a PT corrections position. We maintain mostly pre-sentence and have a few blocks that hold sentence male inmates but

I admit, I am far from perfect in my assessment skills but I know I am able to work in a diversived setting - i.e. school nurse substitute; and LTC nurse PT/PD that I am always constantly and continually progressing!

My final thought was/is: Proceed your own dream. I realize others have encouraged you to 'wait' on your correction path - but honestly, it depends on the facility and how it all plays out!

UPDATE FROM OP:

Well, I received a letter from the correctional facility that I interviewed with. It said I was not chosen for the position. I could really kick myself!! I turned down three other interviews thinking that this was a sure thing. I will allow myself a couple of hours to sulk, and then I must continue with my search-back to the drawing board:crying2: