People pursue a career in nursing for a variety of reasons. Some prefer the flexibility of shift work, while others find healthcare to be a promising career path that offers job security. Still, others are happy to follow in a family member’s footsteps. But, according to a 2023 study published by the NIH, the number one reason people choose a career in nursing? A desire to help others and make a difference. And the study shows that reason is number one by an overwhelming majority.
As a nurse, there are many opportunities to fulfill the desire to help others. And the chance to make a difference in someone’s life regularly presents itself in a nursing career. For nurses working in a correctional facility, helping others and making a positive impact is a significant part of their role.
Those nurses who feel called to work in a correctional facility may wonder what it’s really like. It’s understandable to be apprehensive, especially if you have no prior experience working with incarcerated people. Here, we’ve put together an in-depth look at what it’s like to work in a correctional facility as a nurse.
What Type of Care is Common as A Correctional Facility Nurse?
As a correctional facility nurse, you’ll find the job to be demanding and complex, as you balance the need for the utmost in strict security with compassionate care for those who are incarcerated. Correctional nurses provide care for many different situations. Intake and triage, wound care, substance withdrawal, mental health crises, chronic illnesses, testing for diseases, and geriatric care are just some of the typical scenarios inside a prison environment.
What Are The Key Aspects to Consider as A Correctional Nurse?
Of course, there are additional challenges to working inside a prison facility that you likely wouldn’t experience in a traditional healthcare setting. You’ll be required to provide dignified care to often emotionally unpredictable patients. You’ll need to maintain security and be vigilant at all times. But there are many rewards to caring for this very vulnerable population. Here is a breakdown of the key aspects of a career as a correctional nurse:
- Emotionally Trying Encounters: Dealing with the traumas and abuse that inmates often confront, along with some serious mental health issues and, often, violence, can’t take a toll. You will need to be extra aware of the potential for compassion fatigue and burnout, which is very common for correctional nurses.
- Strict Security: The constant presence of prison guards and corrections officers, intense security protocols, and inmate restraints combine to create a unique and potentially stressful (in the beginning) work environment.
- Uncommon Patient Interactions: Many nurses who work in a correctional facility find the population unaccustomed to dignity and care. A simple expression of kindness to those who have seldom experienced anything other than abuse and violence can be as rewarding for the nurse as for the inmate.
- Understaffing: Because of limited resources, correctional facilities are often understaffed, especially when it comes to nurses. Additional shifts and short staffing can lead to burnout for correctional nurses, just as in any care facility.
What Do I Need to Work in a Correctional Facility as A Nurse?
To work in this high-stakes/high-rewards job, a correctional nurse must be able to balance a tough demeanor with compassion. They must also possess an adaptable nature and an ability to consider complex challenges, both medical and human. Additional skills for those who work in a correctional facility as a nurse are:
- Excellent Clinical Skills: ER and trauma experience is a plus.
- Vigilance: You will need to be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times.
- Adaptability: You’ll be called upon to make decisions in the moment and adapt to constantly changing situations.
- Empathy: The ability to provide compassionate care without judgment is an essential tenet of correctional facility nursing.
- Resilience: You’ll likely experience high stress in a prison environment daily. Some situations are fraught with emotion. Resilience is an important skill to help you avoid burnout.
- Recognize the Need for Self-Care: As the saying goes, “you can’t pour from an empty vessel,” so take care to tend to your own needs. Protect your mental health at all costs. If your job becomes too much for you to bear, speak with your nurse manager or a professional.
Are You Interested in Work as A Correctional Facility Nurse?
The many challenges to working as a correctional facility nurse are real. But, so are the rewards. If you feel called to work as a correctional nurse but aren’t sure where to start, please reach out to BOS Medical Staffing. We work with correctional facilities throughout the southeast, and we’ll find the right job for you. Contact the professional staffing experts at BOS Medical Staffing.
