What's it like to work in a prison for women?

nursecookie9503 · Feb 3, 2004

I don't work in a prison . I work in a county jail and so of course we have male and female inmates. Even though our female population is about 20 % of our total population , they generally take more time to do pill call .sick call etc..

We had a new male nurse last week that lasted only 3 days and I really think the reason he quit was our female dorms. They can get really tacky to say the least. As a general rule we have more complaints out of the females. Hope this helps.

Blackcat99 · Feb 4, 2004

Hi nursecookie.

Sorry to hear you lost your male nurse after only 3 days. It sounds like female inmates are bigger "whiners" than male inmates.Thanks so much for your info. I will definately stay away from "women's prisons":chuckle

:roll

NurseAngie · Feb 6, 2004

Originally posted by nursecookie9503
I don't work in a prison . I work in a county jail and so of course we have male and female inmates. Even though our female population is about 20 % of our total population , they generally take more time to do pill call .sick call etc..
We had a new male nurse last week that lasted only 3 days and I really think the reason he quit was our female dorms. They can get really tacky to say the least. As a general rule we have more complaints out of the females. Hope this helps.

I totally agree. I also work in a county jail and our stats are very similar. The women are the worst inmates.

Blackcat99 · Feb 8, 2004

Thanks Nurse Angie. Now I know for double sure that I don't want to work with female inmates.:chuckle

Nurse Ratched, RN · Feb 8, 2004

My brother is a nurse in a women's prison and he says it beats working with men. The women are certainly much cruder than men, but he hears of far fewer dangerous incidents than in a similar level men's facility nearby.

However, he does have to deal with 200 women on average each week having their "unhappy female time." That's gotta reek.

Blackcat99 · Feb 10, 2004

:chuckle Hi Nurse Ratched

Thanks for your input. Dangerous situations is definately something to think about in correctional facilities. :uhoh21:

psychonurse · Feb 12, 2004

I have worked more than once in my correctional experience with women and I prefer men much much more. Everything takes longer with women than men...sick call, medline everything. Women get much more emotional than men and they take twice as much psych medication than the men. I would much rather take care of my 1600 male inmates than the 250 females that we use to have....jmo......

Nrsndlz1 · Mar 3, 2004

Working with female inmates is EXHAUSTING! They are much more time consuming because of their emotional or mental health needs. I would much rather see 100 male patients before I saw 10 female patients.

rn711 · Mar 5, 2004

Ditto to all who enjoy working with the male prison population more than the females! To date, we have about 40 women and 260 men. I would rather have 100 more men (whatever their charge) and get rid of the 40 women. They "whine" all the time and need a sick call slip if they get a pimple! I can't seem to convince them that my job is to keep them healthy, not happy!

vanceswife · Mar 5, 2004

I am an ICU nurse who does prn prison nursing/correctional nursing. I work at a state penn for males. I do not think that I could handle the chics. This is a good question.

susan18 · Mar 6, 2004

I have worked in 2 prisons for men. I have never worked in a women's prison. What is it like to work in a women's prison? Do you prefer working in an all male prison or an all women prison ?
:roll Thanks

In answer to Blackcat99: I am an ICU nurse of nearly 30 years. I left critical care 2 years ago to work in a maximum security state female prison, and I love it! I started as a staff RN, was promoted to lead RN, then 1 year ago accepted the nurse educator/clinician role. We have nearly 1300 women, and yes, it is taxing at times. Women are more manipulative, but they are also people, and our patients. They are mothers, daughters, wives, and mixed up people. Because I have cared only for women in the correctional setting, I cannot address the difference between men and women there. But I feel I am in a safer situation, as women are historically less violent, and that I make a difference in their lives when I train and nuture my staff. I have no regrets over my career change, and wish I'd done it sooner, actually. I welcome any further way I can be of help in this forum, with a positive view of liking what I do in corrections. Thanks!