Where do I start?

amoLucia · Jul 25, 2013

I might try to check out various Dept of Corrections on federal, state or local webs. There are also travel and staffing agencies that staff for corrections.

OfficerRNBSN · Jul 27, 2013

I don't know what to tell you to answer your question, but I just finished my first week of correctional nursing. I went to RN school after a decade of law enforcement, and I have spent my RN time in hospital acute care while working some of my off time as a part-time officer. This week I found myself providing healthcare services to people I have in the past put in jail. Yes, some remembered me. Some didn't. And I didn't remember some that remembered me. Counter to what a lot of other nurses would probably say, this in no way impacted my role. I think it facilitated it actually because word is spreading that I'm not naïve or gullible. They can't con me legally or medically, and I actually carry all of my police qualifications with me in the jail so if the need arises, and it already has, I can take action to safeguard myself, my coworkers, and the facility. I have for years heard screams and threats of being sued, complained on, and "I'll have your job/badge." None of that means squat to me. Never let that intimidate you.

Inmates, are lying, deceitful, manipulative people who will quickly turn your words and actions against you to suit them. I lump them all together because you have to approach all of them in this manner although, yes, there are a few, select people in jail who continue to be honest and tell the truth. They're in jail for a reason, and I have a dim view of most of them after the many years I've spent chasing after them to put them in jail. Nonetheless, I'm a professional, and I do my job well. They get, and will only get, what is medically necessary for them during their incarceration. Neither I, the jail, nor you, exist to provide them with extended health coverage. Inmates are going to challenge you with complaints, excuses, and burdens. They will seek any and every opportunity for "special" treatment, a chance to get out of their pod, or to get something (anything) even a med. I suppose because they can't have much of anything while they're in jail that getting a Bandaid or 800 mg ibuprofen is psychologically appealing to them.

What I can tell you to succeed is this:

1. Trust yourself. If you know you saw, heard, did, etc. then you saw, heard, and did. Don't let any inmate make you believe otherwise.

2. Be observant. See what's going on around you. Know where things are. If you laid a pen down while you're dealing with an inmate and you look back and the pen is gone don't hesitate to infer that the inmate grabbed it. Just be reasonable.

3. Develop the ability to remember dialog. Stories will change, and some of these professional criminals are amazing liars, but if you listen and remember (a skill that takes time to hone) you'll catch the subtle differences in their story, nail them on it, and win out.

4. Don't let them ask why. You're not there to explain why. Be respectful because they're human, and you'll get more respect in return. Letting them ask why and nit pick are ways of demeaning your authority. When you tell them something then stick with it. If you say no, mean it.

5. Pick your battles. Never let an inmate think they've dominated you or your position, but there are indeed times where it's simpler, for you, to placate an inmate than get bogged down in their mess.

6. Don't argue. Make your statement, listen to what they have to say, reaffirm yourself, and move on. Refers back to point #4.

7. Take nothing personally. This may take years to develop if you're a Type A personality. When I first started as a police officer I used to get so angry out on calls. In jail, know they're the inmate and you get to go home. You shouldn't care what they think about you or how you do your job.

8. The other jail staff may not understand your job, and that's ok. They see "pill call" as what you do. They may not understand that you can't give meds without orders, prescriptions, or protocols, etc. They may not understand there has to be a MAR. They may not know you're not trained to diagnose something and treat it according to some knowledge you have tucked away in your mind. Know who your boss is.

9. You may have heard in nursing school that you can't "hit a patient." Your training and orientation should include defensive techniques and a keen understanding of what you can do to defend yourself. Never allow any inmate to harm you because of some indoctrination you received in college.

10. Buy your own Liability Insurance. I just chose NSO for $108/year. Well worth it.

11. Study up on staph infections and tuberculosis/tb treatment.

Many of the tips I have given you appear to fall outside of the nursing therapeutic process, but really they don't. This is a subculture you're dealing with, and they put themselves in jail/prison. You had nothing to do with it, and jail/prison is fraught with rules, and they absolutely must obey them. If they're breaking rules during sick call, etc. then dismiss them and allow them to return later when they can behave.

All said, this job is light years better than working in a hospital!

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Jul 27, 2013

Inmates, are lying, deceitful, manipulative people who will quickly turn your words and actions against you to suit them. I lump them all together because you have to approach all of them in this manner although, yes, there are a few, select people in jail who continue to be honest and tell the truth. They're in jail for a reason, and I have a dim view of most of them after the many years I've spent chasing after them to put them in jail.

I just think of it as the corrections version of universal precautions.

apoppyfield, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2013

PoliceRNBSN, Did the hiring facility accept your previous police background as experience. I am having problems meeting the one year requirement, but I would think that having experience working with this population would be considered a plus.

OfficerRNBSN · Jul 28, 2013

PoliceRNBSN, Did the hiring facility accept your previous police background as experience. I am having problems meeting the one year requirement, but I would think that having experience working with this population would be considered a plus.

I worked as a hospital RN before taking this job, however, I found out about it and swooped in before it was even advertised.