Would like to hear from all who work in corrections. or those with questions and information.

vickielee, I am loving the work in the jail. Hope we get a strong group going here.

I am also curious, CD. It can't be just despensing meds all day. I know a lot of stuff happens inside. Is there a place for LPN's in corrections.

I don't know about LVNs, but I know they hire medication aides here in Texas, as well as RNs, so I am guessing there are also LVNs.
There is a prison about 45 minutes from where I live ,and there are people who work there and where I work. The benefits are supposed to be pretty good, although I couldn't tell you what they would be.I am guessing retirement and health insurance.

Our state also has constant posting for prison nurses. I often wonder at what nurses do, but I don;t think I could stand to hear or know the doors behind me lock and I am "stuck" inside.

is anyone still here???

Don't know about working as a prison nurse but I have a BS in criminal justice as well as being a nurse now for almost 31 years. You're right about the sound of that door closing and the feeling of being "inside" and no way out. I did research interviews in 9 maximum security prisons in the North Carolina area including 2 "baby" prisons (juveniles under 18) and dealt with some pretty nasty characters. I can say that I was treated well by the inmates, for the most part. There's always that one who has some vulgar remark to make. Thing is that his fellow inmates are the ones who shut him up. They are so thrilled to see a new face that they don't want some nut job to screw it up. It's a strange environment for those of us who have always tried to walk on the "right" side of the law but not a totally alien one.

The hospital I work in has a Forensic Unit, we do psych evals to determine competency, to restore to com[etency and to maintain the individual to a state of competency. We are a locked facility and you are right about the sound of the door closing. I have learned that even felons are people and that as long as you maintain your boundaries, follow the institution's rule because these wiil keep you alive, don't decide that YOU are the SAVIOR accept the foul, intimidating language and gestures and you will be fine. The rapid turn over is related to all the negative energy that is generated in corrections and as much comes fro staff as from the inmates. Nanacarol

Many times the nurses just make rounds with the docs and the NPs. I have my own nurse to make rounds with me. That is an easy gig. Wish I had something like that when I was in school. Most are LPNs. I have an RN. She is fantastic and has saved my butt more than once. We have med nurses and that is all they do, pass meds. Some of the nurses just sit in the nurses station and talk on the phone. Not sure what that job is all about.

Iv asked people about corrections. My brother was a corrections officer and quite liked his job. He did say you have to have some mind for it. I'm really considering it. I've tried to get into the hospital but they won't hire lpn's. I really like to know what's new and going on. I've met several ladies who did it and had good and bad to say. One gal I met had done it for 25 years. The benefits are good and they will pay for your education. The prisons near me don't pay so well but it's worth it. I work in LTC. I'm getting bored and feel I won't be hired anywhere else. But corrections I'm leaning heavy towards.

I live five blocks aways from one of the most notourious prisions in the U.S., Leavenworth Federal Pentinatry. I had one nurse tell me the pay was wonderful, but the imates did freak her out. I am still working on my degree. To be honest I have not really considered the prisions (there is another on in a town less than two miles a way in Lansing, Ks) as a potential employer, but I will keep my mind open to the possiabilty.

I think that I would consider working in corrections. I have just started school and have awhile to go, but I am already looking at the many different options available. I have been working with animals for the last ten years and expect that people won't be much different, scared and unsure of what might happen to them. I also expect to get bit and urinated and defecated on just like with animals. I would think that all of these things could happen in any medical facility.

I work in the prison system. I have worked in the prison system for abouut 7 years. I say you have to be different to stay. I have worked at a medium and minumum custody facility. I like medium custody because they don't have as much freedom to roam. The medium custody facility had inpatient mental health for several years and just changed in the last two years. I am now at the minimum custody facility. It is called a hospital but it isn't a real hospital. It has one in patient floor and four outpatient floors. There are four MDs and two PAs on staff. We have dialysis and ID clinic (infectious disease). I plan to stay with corrections for at least a year after I finish my ADN. Spitting hasn't happened at the facilities I worked at toward nursing staff but it has taken place toward the officers. The facility I work at has been on tv also I think. I never saw it though. Other staff members told me about it. One old inmate has been featured in local newspapers. They mainly focus on the aging inmates and the cost of care for them. The minimum custody facility I work at is almost like a rest home. A lot of old guys, guys in wheelchairs, stroke patients, cancer and end atage liver disease and HIV, AIDS, hepatitis.

ljr3418 said:

I am also curious, CD. It can't be just despensing meds all day. I know a lot of stuff happens inside. Is there a place for LPN's in corrections.

Brooke, you have plenty of time to make up your mind. You will most likely change your mind a few times before you finish. I just always knew that I wanted to do psych and nothing else. There is another show that just started this season. It is named, "Jail" Clark County Detention Center, my jail, has been featured on both shows. I am in Las Vegas. The pay here is not as great as California but much better thna Erie and better than any city in Georgia.