Travel Nursing in Corrections or how to get out?

[prisonnurse02]

I am a corrections nurse currently working in a management position. I'm seriously tired of it and would like to either do travel nursing in corrections or get out of corrections entirely. The problem is, I've been doing this for 7 years, so it appears to prospective employers that I don't have any recent clincial experience. Obviously this is not true, as we treat all kinds of things in prison ! Any advice from anyone? Thanks in advance.

[9064]

Hi!

I am still fairly new to correctional nursing.. and am on my way out just as fast as I can. I have been interviewing and have heard over and over that no one wants to hire a correctional nurse because they think we are all mean. I look at my coworkers and pretty much have to agree.

So to answer your ? I would use this line: "It's not the kind of nursing I want to do" "I want a job where I can be nice to people". In my experience those two lines work wonders. You also need to detail out all your clinical skills. Make a list and hand it out. The general consensus seems to be that correctional nurses don't do a lot of skills and don't practice good nursing. And sorry to report, that is my experience and why I'm getting out.

You may have to take a huge pay cut too. So be very vague about your expectations. Let them offer. I blew one interview by asking for half of what I am earning now & it was still more than they wanted to pay. In retrospect I would have gladly taken it. (things are that bad where I work.)

Good luck!