Why Do You Do What You Do?

I for one actually like my job as a Correctional Nurse..You never know what is going to show up at your door. Inmates fight,they beat the crap out of each other, they have heart attacks, bowel obstructions, we have the psyche inmates, and the regular clinic things, just like I was used to, when I worked in the ER. I get paid good to be entertained(by the inmates) when I listen to them whine about their roommates, the bad food, etc..&.After you've been in a facility for awhile you can practice your manipulating skills,(just like the inmates :) yes indeed I love my job, some of the short timers, & the anklebitters, you can actually see some of them get on the right track, & not come back..others, well you see them time & time again, because they do life on the installment plan... It's just an interesting, mind boggling place to work. Plus when you know all of your clients have attorneys (not necessarily good ones, "They are in prison" after all) It just makes it a more challenging place to work... I do love my job!

correctional nursing fulfills the big three facets of nursing while preventing the pitfalls.

the pitfalls ignored are:

1. shift call offs due to low census. no such thing as low census.

2. supportive personnel not showing up. ancilliary personnel live here. plenty of licensed professionals motivated to show up for the good pay, and ability to complete your job in 8 hours.

3. unreasonable demands of management. job responsibilities are spelled out by contract and job functions documented with clear performance requirements.

4. patient family dynamics. no contact with family.

the facets of nursing are;

1. advocacy for patients. you are a patient advocate.

2. compassion. when appropriate you can be compassionate. or you can live up to the name 'nurse no'.

3. skill practice. you will have the opportunity to use every skill you were taught, read about, or don't have. from pregnancy, hiv counseling, geriatrics, war zone injuries, psych, substance abuse.

wow! who wouldn't love it!

All I can say is amen to what Oldmare LPN said. I am brand new to correctional nursing so I can only tell you what motivated me to make the switch. I am burned out on working in what I felt was an unsafe environment; short staffed bedside nursing. I have also come to hate dealing with demanding family members.

I for one actually like my job as a Correctional Nurse..You never know what is going to show up at your door. Inmates fight,they beat the crap out of each other, they have heart attacks, bowel obstructions, we have the psyche inmates, and the regular clinic things, just like I was used to, when I worked in the ER. I get paid good to be entertained(by the inmates) when I listen to them whine about their roommates, the bad food, etc..&.After you've been in a facility for awhile you can practice your manipulating skills,(just like the inmates :) yes indeed I love my job, some of the short timers, & the anklebitters, you can actually see some of them get on the right track, & not come back..others, well you see them time & time again, because they do life on the installment plan... It's just an interesting, mind boggling place to work. Plus when you know all of your clients have attorneys (not necessarily good ones, "They are in prison" after all) It just makes it a more challenging place to work... I do love my job!

i agree with you when my agency sent me to Cmc in columbus

wich is a medical correctional facility

i loved it

it was never a dull moment

always something new going on

and there were times i could talk to the inmates

i have had oppertunity to even have church withthem

(with guards at my side )

i have a good friend that is a wound nurse (lpn)

she does nothing but wounds all day long

she gets good money for it too

but you hear the whinning alot

an the manipulation all the time

there was quarters that held hospice people and some death row inmates

chaedule 3,4 with guards always in the room when we would refill ice or bedding or give them personal items

inmates are sneeky though

we wouldhave shakedown every day and you would be suprised what they could smuggle in LOL

my hats off you all of you correctional nurses

that is a labor of love

leah

I think correctional nursing has a bad rap. (at least around here it does) I felt just like anyone else that applied for a correctional nursing position... I was nervous. Once I got in there I was ok. When I graduated, I would have NEVER thought I would be in corrections.

I work in a state prison and a county detention center so I see both sides. I do enjoy it BUT only work PRN. I have tried working full time hours and it burns me out. But that is just me. It can also be very rewarding.

My main job is Quality Assurance/Educator and corrections PRN.

I too love the variety. I have seen stabbings, rapes, riots, hostage situations, ...let me tell you about the guy who used to cut open his abdomen, pull his intestines out and squirt them at people! You can't make this stuff up!!! I could tell you stories all day, but if you work it long enough, you too could write a book. I am the first responder and the triage nurse, and the paramedic until outside help arrives. I have to use all my skills to help sometimes less than cooperative patients...sometimes I have stumbled along and saved a life...I have had to start IV's on four point restrained inmates (looking hog tied) while they are naked on the rec cage floor...I now think I could start an IV in the dark sometimes! I have just been able to see and do so much more than any other arena of nursing. From HIV to Malaria. I have worked executions...my kids think it is cool that I sat in the electric chair! I can't imagine any other job offering this much variety..

lauradrizzt- wow, thanks for sharing. that's amazing. sounds like you love your job!!!

Number one reason: Hospital nursing is unsafe and way too stressful (compared to corrections).

And yeah, no more family members. I worked in Oncology and truthfully, the family members were difficult to deal with, which I'm not denying is totally understandable. But it was difficult. They would ask me if their loved one was well enough to go home soon and this would be when the patient was in total organ shut down and practically on their last breath. I had to pick my jaw off the floor a couple times. How sad, those poor families! It could have been denial, too. But still, it's difficult to have to say "um, they're not going home any time soon and um, they're not going to make it." Geez, how do you say that? There is a good side, though, families of Oncology patients can be very helpful, too, and they really appreciate the nurses. I used to cry before work sometimes.

Correctional nursing is so much better. I'm so glad I found it! I go home feeling like I accomplished something and not feeling like I forgot something!

Number one reason: Hospital nursing is unsafe and way too stressful (compared to corrections).

And yeah, no more family members.

As a former ICU nurse, I totally agree Truegem! Too many family members 24/7 with no restrictions on visitors, no breaks for 12 hours, expected to reposition 500 lb men with no help except for a fellow RN.........just a few reasons that attracted me to Corrections.

Oh yeah, no Press-Gainey surveys No scripted nursing replies

The only bad point I have found with corrections is that oftentimes your coworkers can be more evil than the inmates.

The only bad point I have found with corrections is that oftentimes your coworkers can be more evil than the inmates.

So true!!!

A Federal Law Enforcement Retirement Package....

that, and the ability to transfer within the federal system to jobs otherwise unavailable in the civilian world.

rb

Hi Everyone,

I'm just a student but I have a few questions.

I can imagine this kind of nursing isn't the easiest to do, or choice to make. So my question is, why do you do correctional nursing? What motivates you? Is it more or less challenging than other types of nusing you have done? What makes it hard, enjoyable, rewarding, etc.?