Do you really have to be tough to work in a jail as a nurse? For the nurses who already worked or works in a jail would you recommend someone to be a nurse in the jail system?

I think the biggest thing you have to realize working in a jail or prison system is you are in the world of corrections, they are not in yours.  They have a multitude of rules (for your safety as well as theirs)  You are not by any means in a hospital situation, even if you're nursing in their inpatient facility.  The correctional officers rule the facility, most are willing to work with you but some are not.

I found it fun, learned a great deal and felt it was a rewarding time for me as a nurse.

 glad to read those comments as i may soon be working in a correctional institute.

Lower security level facilities are not too bad to work in, they even have their fun moments. 

 Higher level security facilites can be dangerous.  Get all the facts before you go to work at a jail, prison or penitenary.  I have been injured in altercations in Federal levels 3-5 (then again, I have done a couple of take-downs in a civilian emergency rooms).

 Suzannefisher was dead-on when she said not to take anything personally.  Sometimes they (prisoners or correctional officers) will mess with you to see if you will put up with it (like an initiation).

 On the whole, if you are confident and competent, you can make a career out of a correctional health nursing specialty.  (I did it for 10 years.)

Gitano is so right about being careful regardless of where your working. In corrections you must always be aware of surroundings and yourself. Depending on the entity you pursue for career opportunities, it can be a slow process! I know I applied for the state positions right out of school, and wasn't hiring until a year later. It moves at a snail pace, but the salaries seem competative so I was gladly accepting of the offer they gave me. @ that time I had little to no experience really, having been a relatively new grad. I think it's definitely worth pursuing if you have an interest... see if they can offer you something that sounds worth your time and effort. Again the population may have a negative aspect and malingering can really be a life or death matter at times, depending on their gang affiliation.

Ramano & Pearlferret, what should I be doing now to increase my chances of getting a position in corrections as a PMHNP? How do I make connections while in school (I have 3 more years)? Are there any mentoring programs that you know of? Would i be able to get some experience as a student nurse? I am extremely interested and I want to make the best case senerio to get hired right after I complete my program. Pearlferret are there things you could/would of done differently to speed up the process? or create more interest in your application?

Jevell,  To answer your question about what to do now.  Become the best all-around nurse you can be.  You will find yourself doing clinical nursing, in-patient nursing, working in the lab, x-ray and pharmacy and doing triage and that could all be in the same day.