How to Get a Job as a Correctional Facility Nurse

Correctional facility nurses have a unique career; they can many times treat patients without the supervision of a doctor. Nurses began treating inmates in the mid 1970's after a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case in Texas where an inmate sued an officer because he would not allow him to go to the medical ward. Ever since then nurses have been allowed to enter into prisons and give much needed medical care. Many times inmates have avoided doctors due to drug addiction and possible capture by law enforcement. The nurses who treat such inmates are welcomed with gratitude because the inmate's life style has not afforded them medical care or they have chosen not to be treated.

There used to be a stigma attached to being a nurse in a correctional facility, it was not proven but many people thought that a nurse who worked for the prison system could not get a job in a real hospital. Not the case, some nurses found themselves having more autonomy in treating inmates which game them a greater sense of accomplishment. The schedules were more flexible and nurses saw different types of diseases in a prison hospital. Some nurses are paid a little more because of the hazardous working conditions, that's not always an available perk but its worth looking into.

If nursing is your passion then the standards of care are practiced no matter the surroundings. Nurses who work in the correctional system follow procedures much like in a hospital setting. The patient's data is collected and an assessment is made, it is kept in strict confidence from other inmates. A diagnosis is made after all the data has been assessed, then an outcome and planning procedure is put into practice. This helps to make sure the inmate is given the proper medication and if a follow up visit is needed one can be scheduled. Next, implementation and evaluation are part of the care plan; this helps to ensure that the inmate is responding to medical treatment. All documentation is private from inmates and staff.

The safety of some nurses can be challenged; many who work in this challenging field find that a sign of weakness can be used against them. If an inmate does threaten a nurse they can be placed away from other inmates until such time proves they can be treated without conflict. Nurses who work with maximum security inmates that are suicidal have a duty to resuscitate them if they are scheduled for execution. It's a challenging profession but many who work in these surroundings get used to the cell doors slamming behind them, they know their job and it's to give the best care possible.

To obtain a position as a correctional facility nurse you must be an R.N. Registered Nurse, or have a BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Trauma skills are an asset, emergency management and the ability to work independently are all needed in this field. Continuing education is also a part of a nurse's practice. Many times nurses will need further education in communal diseases and how to treat them in a larger population; they might help with detox for inmates and chronic diseases or even terminal care.

Because correctional facility nurses are employed by the correctional systems or prisons they may encounter more bureaucratic problems than in a hospital. There are staffing agencies that help nurses find positions in correctional facilities. Nurses may find themselves treating inmates in juvenile facilities and in adult correctional facilities. Nurses are needed in all areas of the prison system. Nursing is very different in a prison than in a hospital. Although staffing procedures are followed by each shift entering and leaving the correctional facility, the charts are evaluated by each nurse so that the proper medical care can be given to each inmate who needs it. Correctional facility nurses are taught that people are patients first and inmates second. Nurses make a difference where ever they are and the gratitude they receive from inmates can build long-term relationships.