What is it like to be a nurse in a prison?

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Just curious, I may have a job lined up in a very large corrections facility, and was curious to know what nursing at a prison entails? Is it dangerous? Etc..

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

i don't know but i bet it gets pretty exciting... can't wait to read the replies !! hope they include stories ....

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From what I have read and open positions I see open it seems like they mostly hire LVP/LPN for the med pass etc. Pay seems good though.

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I am man and a body builder so I am not to concerned with getting assaulted, but curious as to what a normal day is like.

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Specializes in L&D/Postpartum/Newborn, Home Health.

When I read the title at first I thought it said "What's it like to be a nurse in prison." hahahahahahaha!!!

Carry on!

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.
When I read the title at first I thought it said "What's it like to be a nurse in prison." hahahahahahaha!!!

Carry on!

me too !! whats it like to be a nurse in prison ?? lol... than i read it again !!! lol hahahhahaha !! :jester:

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
When I read the title at first I thought it said "What's it like to be a nurse in prison." hahahahahahaha!!!

Carry on!

You aren't alone in that.:p My first thought was "well don't drop the soap," until I realized the OP was looking for what it is like to work as a nurse in a prison.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I personally haven't done corrections nursing but my husband did. I can share some of his experiences.

He loved what he did. His duties varied, depending upon the shift he worked. Dayshift was boring (he used to say) too many people in clinic...once they got the med pass completed, they then saw sick call patients then they were pretty much done unless they got a transfer in.

His favorite was afternoon shift, more to do and on your own. He was responsible for the med pass, admission assessments, setting up med profiles for new inmates, investigating medications to be administered, conferring with central prison in Raleigh regarding prisoners transferred to his jail(this was in NC). He was also responsible as a first responder to any incidents that developed with inmates..for example, anyone injured in a fight or if someone had a seizure in his cell. He was also responsible for dealing with many inmates who were going through DT's..managing them using meds available. He also had to inventory the pharmacy, write orders for meds that needed refilling and setting up the med pass for the AM nurse. He also delivered first aid to any officers who might have been injured. He was also responsible for determining if an inmate needed to go to the hospital for further evaluation.

He loved his job, he got to deal with so many different types of people. He learned quickly that the prisoners would take advantage of you in a heartbeat...he got really good at learning who was having a true medical emergency and those who were faking. Also dealt a lot with the homeless and untreated chronic illnesses...which was probably his favorite. Epidemiology was a hobby of his so dealing with a population so underserved by the health care field was a huge incentive for him. As a positive, the county health department (who was his actual employer) sent him for classes so he could become certified in Public Health Nursing. He loved those classes and was very proud when he completed them.

Hope this helps. Just an overview of what he did.

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Sounds interesting I might go ahead and take the job.

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I am man and a body builder

so are most of the inmates

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.
so are most of the inmates

lol !!! you guys crack me up !! i love " don't drop the soap " never thought of that !! lol.. thank you for making me laugh.. i have had a stressful day and needed this !! but i do hope we hear some stories about working in a prison !! so the Op will know wheter to apply or not !! :lol2:

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

If you check under "Specialty" tab there is a "correctional Nursing" forum that you can peruse and find out more on this...

Also..

Originally Posted by ImThatGuy viewpost.gif

so are most of the inmates

LOL! Too true.

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