When you hear the words corrections or prison nurse, your first thoughts might be that it sounds scary or might be unsafe. The idea of working in a jail, prison or correctional facility can unfortunately lead to various myths and misconceptions. This sector can be dismissed by some for limited career growth, danger, and “tough” settings. However, being a correctional travel nurse can provide structured environments, meaningful interactions, and unique challenges that test and improve your clinical skills.
In this article, AB Staffing Solutions sheds light on the reality to dispel these myths. With this information, you gain a deeper understanding of this specialty and make informed decisions if you’re planning to take this career path. Keep reading to learn more.
Myth 1: It’s Too Dangerous
Unsurprisingly, working in correctional facilities may look dangerous. The demographic most nurses will work with is individuals navigating the justice system. These patients can indeed be unpredictable, potentially violent, and manipulative. In fact, 96.5% of nurses in these settings have reported facing verbal harassment.
Reality: Strict Security Measures and Team-Based Protocols
While there is a high percentage of nurses facing workplace violence in correctional facilities, many still prefer to work here because of the strict safety measures and team-based protocols. Nurses, no matter the setting, can face violence from patients. However, correctional facilities have highly structured systems that include surveillance, controlled movement, and clear emergency protocols. This reality actually lessens the physical danger healthcare professionals may face.
As counterintuitive as it may seem, nurses feel more control in these settings. There’s an established order that makes these facilities more predictable compared to overcrowded and understaffed hospitals.
Myth 2: The Care Is Substandard
Correctional facilities have a reputation for low-quality living and outdated equipment. This results in substandard patient care, which is a common misconception that overlooks the rigorous rules and constitutional mandates governing correctional medicine.
Reality: Evidence-Based Practices in a Controlled Setting
Nursing follows the same care standards in traditional settings. Plus, the law mandates a standard of care that meets the community’s level of adequacy. Areas like chronic disease management, mental health care, and emergency response are guided by evidence-based practices or established treatment protocols.
The incarcerated population has significantly higher rates of chronic conditions compared to the general population. In fact, inmates in both jails and prisons are roughly 1.6 times more likely to suffer from arthritis and 1.3 to 1.4 times more likely to have asthma than the average American. As such, robust care practices are even more essential.
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Myth 3: It’s a Stagnant Role
Some nurses assume that travel nursing limits future career options. Meanwhile, correctional nursing is stigmatized because of the demographic and setting. However, these are simply untrue.
Reality: Travel Nursing Opens You to New Opportunities
As you work in a correctional facility, you’re usually well rounded nurse who handles a wide range of medical conditions. Correctional RNs and LPNs manage chronic illnesses, provide emergency care, and more. This reality provides a breadth of experience that makes you valuable in other healthcare settings.
As a traveling nurse, your network expands. Plus, you have opportunities to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, further expanding your skillset and experience. Beyond clinical care, travel nursing helps develop your leadership, case management, and emergency response skills.
Myth 4: It’s Just “Med-Pass” and Paperwork
Another common misconception about correctional nursing is that it consists only of routine medication administration and documentation. In other words, the work is just simple paperwork and procedure.
Reality: High-Acuity Care and Autonomous Assessment
The work involved in facilities is complex and hands-on. Nurses perform tasks such as the following.
- Assess acute pain and other complaints
- Manage chronic illnesses
- Triage patients with limited on-site provider availability
- Respond to medical emergencies
All these require critical thinking and independent clinical judgment. These traits are especially critical in these settings because, as we said, this population is more prone to various illnesses. Data shows that incarcerated adults are 60% have at least one chronic medical condition. Correctional nurses must be able to provide care that helps identify early signs of deterioration, coordinate urgent care, and stabilize patients before escalation. These skills are far from the “routine” that’s frequently associated with this sector.
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Myth 5: No Meaningful Patient Connections
Many nurses find their role appealing because it helps them make an impact on patients and their communities as a whole. Correctional nursing may seem to take away these connections, especially with the structure inside these facilities.
Reality: Correctional Nursing Can Create Impactful Trust-Based Care
While the correctional setting does limit interactions, many nurses become trusted providers that inmates look up to for preventative care, mental health treatment, and chronic disease management. The structure of these settings allows for continuity and accountability, allowing nurses to track and see outcomes. Being able to see these improvements and treating one of the most discriminated demographics in the country often creates a sense of meaningful purpose for nurses.
Wrapping Up: Demystifying Travel Nursing
Correctional travel nursing may be filled with misconceptions like dangerous workplaces, uncomplicated work, or lack of career growth, but this career path is not any of these things. The control and order in correctional facilities, the hands-on role, and all-rounder responsibilities make this vocation a critical part of the healthcare system. You become an in-demand professional with adaptability, the ability to work in stressful environments, and specialized clinical skills that lead to a resilient career path.
Make the Next Career Step With AB Staffing Solutions
At AB Staffing Solutions, we help healthcare professionals find positions across various sectors, specialties, and geographic locations. If you would like to start a career path as a correctional traveling nurse, apply now and bring you one step closer to your chosen company or location.
Browse our openings today to begin the process, or contact us to learn more about our staffing services.
