Has anyone ever worked as a Prison Nurse before?

Question

For those of you that have read some of my other questions, I'm really confused as to where my Nursing career is heading. I work in CCU and I am doing the Msc in Cardiology- which I am part way through...However,I think I've made the wrong choice. I am one of these people that needs a challenge, and I need to be kept motivated. I filled out the application form for UCAS to apply to study Medicine, but now I don't think I want to do that either. I HATE not knowing what to do. I'm quite a 'together' person and usually know what I want. Chris is being irritating at the moment too, he said (and I quote) "If you go to Med School we won't be able to have children till we are old, also my sperm will run out" OK, he knows that will not happen, he's highly intelligent and is just saying that to be awkward/stupid/obnoxious.

OK so yes, there is job vacancy at a Prison not to far from me, has anyone worked as a prison Nurse before? I can't for one moment think my dad or Chris would approve, but since when did I ever listen to anything anyone says?

I've had Army Nursing experience, so I can be tough, but when I suggest this to my friends etc they tend to laugh and say it would not be a good idea me working in a prison, why exactly? What exactally is involved?

The other option is re -training and becoming a Midwife? I kinda like that too. But I like medicine too, and I know I am capable of that. It would be a shame to put my academic abilities to waste. I just, don't want to be 40 in 20 years time and look back and think, "I wish I had done this, I wish I done that" I'd like to hear from anyone who has done either of the three I suggested above. With regards to midwifery, is the course 18 months long to convert if your a general Nurse?

My dad says I should forget Nursing all together and become a drug rep, I would not like that! I get pissed off with drug company's as it is! But do you think I've left med school to late? I'm almost 23 now, I won't be going (if I go) till next September by which time I will almost be 24, then it's a 5 year medical degree (although I can do the shortened 4 year medical degree.. because of my existing degree) So I'd almost be 30 by the time I have done my 2 years pre reg. Oh dear god, I can't believe I am going to be 30 in 7 years time, you have no idea how much that freaks me out.

I'm ranting again, I don't know why I do that, so basically any advise is appreciated, also, if there are any other specialty Nurses, it might be good to hear from you too

Rhianna

Answer 1

Answer this.  If you DON'T go to med school, how old will you be in seven years?

Answer 2

First of all, let me comment on your beauty and brains. and what a lovely name to go with it: Rhianna.  Sounds like the lovely Barbados singer.

Now to answer your multiple questions: And I will give you a parallel to my long nursing career as an  ICU-CCU nurse who's a CCRN and has a BSN and a MSN in nursing.

I graduated from a diploma school with intensive training involving full time duty roster of  rotating monthly 8 hrs  with school hrs in between.  The clinical experience is intensive as it included hrs in OR, midwifery and even Public Health.  We delivered babies out in the field.  Midwifery is a very joyous career. as you deal with happy events for prospective parents. OR is interesting too.  

These are the careers I initially considered.  Teaching.  When I was going to undergraduate school; I always aced my tests and teachers made me correct papers.That's why I was fascinated with teaching and stlll am.  My father didn't want me to study teaching.  He said they are underpaid and become tuberculous.  So when a male nurse friend of my brother came over to the house; I fell in love with medicine or nursing.  My father( bless his soul)  was opposed because he

said  it's a demeaning job. -Serving bedpans. I had to get permission from my grandfather.  

In New York, juggling with motherhood and a small baby and a full time job, I  finished my BSN and MSN.  So I considered being a nurse anesthetist  helping in OR or giving anesthesia to women in labor.  9 of us applied and only two were selected. That would have meant going back  to school  while working of course with a stipend.  But I changed my mind and joined the Air Force which was a mistake as rigorous and a too regimented atmosphere plus rotating shifts again.  

.

Then I tried nursing administration which was frustrating dealing with politics in the upper echelons.  .  So I revert back to being an  ICU- CCU critical nurse and had never looked back since. We do also open heart surgeries.   .This job has been very rewarding for me.  There's a lot of self satisfaction when I saved a lot of  pts in my care. This is a very challenging career. as I put my knowledge to work.    

I know of a lot of doctors who can not pass their boards go into nursing  and even professors. as bedside nursing can make more money.

The hours are flexible.  And most importantly condusive to a semblance of family life. Plus it's practical.  You can use you knowledge that you learned in school .  Your intelligence doesn't become stagnant with the same routine. like midwifery or a prison nurse. I did industrial nursing.  Prison nurses do not make a  lot of money. Most of their functions is delousing or putting powder under the prisoner's  armpits as one nurse friend told me.  Or formulating manuals.  

I enjoy nursing people not manuals or books. or being on the good side of somebody.  It gives me independence.  I started a trend.  Now most of my cousins are successful nurses.  And I saved my parents a lot of money in intervening for their healthcare.  That's why they lasted a long time in my care.

  

The whole health industry is in trouble and manipulated by the drug companies. You'll find a lot of literature deploring them for inventing toxins, and diseases  so that  they can make more monies on developing medicines.  It's not unusual for the majority of the patient population which is  composed mostly by the elderly to be glutted with so much meds. Popping them like M&M's.  

Finally, let's consieder your other option.  Being a doctor is not all hyped to be.  Some of them lack that bedside.,compassionate manner that nurses have. Plus you have to go back to school again. Are you ready to face up to the overhead expenses including malpractice  that they have?  

So I hope I enlighten you on this quagmire that you have.!!!!!

Starting a career at 30 years old is not too bad.  If that's what you want.  

If I have to live all over again, I wouldn't have changed any of my life's choices.!!! As a nurse, a mother and a health educator!!!

Answer 3

Hello!!!!

Okay i have no experiance in health or nursing what so ever but i noticed the bit about you been 30 when your finished!!!

You have your hole life a head of you, lots of people have kids in their 30s and youl still have 35 more years to work until you retire!!!!

Answer 4

I am afraid all the prison nurses I worked with were previously prison warders who were then sent off to do nursing training, so they were a bit duel purpose. My honest feeling, from this limited experience is it's probably not the job for you Rhianna, my impression was always that it it was not very fulfilling as a nursing job.

In terms of entering medicine later on, I certainly encounter many chaps who did this very successfully. The head of ophthalmology in Lanarkshire, now retired, was a student with me, he entered medicine well in to his 20's. Also the old Glasgow professor of surgery, who later went on to be a professor of surgery at the Hammersmith, also came in to medicine late.

Answer 5

Why don't you marry Dr frank?he's a GP right? you can be his practise nurse then you can spend your life giving him BJ's. you should marry him. or your dad.

block me I don't care, you would not last 5 minutes in a prison. it would be like putting a rabbit in with the lions. this is a common problem with women like you who don't realise the power your looks have over men. There are s*x offenders in prison, you would be, as the first answer said, raped on day 1.

Answer 6

Because your pretty, you would get raped in a prision. go to medical school, dump your boyfriend and marry a dcotor

laters

Answer 7

There are correctional facilities and penal institutions.  There is

super-max and more.  Prison is a base perspective and best not

employed by new hire applicants.  All nurse personnel in felony

custody in my experience were LPN minimum security felons

subject to non-medical staff supervision and regulations.  M.D.

were problem prone individuals (i.e, failed outside practise, debt,

certified if foreign medical educations, and the like).   Know the

Non-Correction health professionals are replacing less apt help

but l lack that one-on-one contact.  I experienced medical end at

death row, emergency treatment, hospital receptions, medication

delivery, rape kit applications, sick parade, suicide watch, transport,

to name the usual.  Urge reader to pursue employment within the

Government Federal or State but stay out of contracted custodial

care as latter is too ripe for abuse.  County level facilities usually

employ out-of-house help.  Tell Dad the odds are still one in ten he

will yet serve time; suggest that a friendly face at door is nice.