Sassy27 Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Hello all! I'm writing seeking some advice regarding a career choice at the moment. I just recently relocated from NYC back to the western suburbs where I am from. So far I love it - I was just hired at a great facility doing inpatient IM 4 days a week/10 hr shifts. I received a phone call from a recruiter several weeks ago asking if I would ever be interested in working I'm corrections in the prison system. I said yes not thinking I would actually be considered.. When I lived in NYC I worked in a rigorous hospital job 3 12 hr/shifts per week and did a second job on the side 2-3 days a week for about 3 years..needless to say - I'm basically a workaholic. Now I'm at the point in process in the corrections job where I'm scheduled for the integrity interview. My problem is that I'm a young female in my 20s, blonde hair and quite attractive and about a nickel over 100 lbs. I want to pursue the job in corrections because it's per diem, pays extremely well and I would get to pick and choose my days to work. Plus I'm very used to working 2 jobs. Only problem is my parents are very concerned about my working with this population considering the fact that I'm young and vulnerable. They of course envision all of the terrible things that could happen and I am of course not as concerned considering it will be a highly regulated environment with guards and every thing else. Was wondering if anyone else has had any experience or could weigh on weather or not this would be a good or negate opportunity? On another note my new hospital currently has restrictions about their employees working 2nd jobs but I just planned to keep it on the "DL" for the time being until I see what's what. Any input is greatly appreciated!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbrothers98 Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 First, never tell your parents about stuff like this. You're an adult, you make your own way. Mom and Dad should not have to worry about you after your freshmen year at college. Let them bask in their success of raising a child who accomplished something. Maybe start thinking about giving them a grandchild. Don't tell them about your part time job you are worried about getting assaulted at. You will get a call to check on your wellbeing after every shift you work there till you quit. It will become THE topic of conversation with them all the time, every time. That said, this is a bit of a scary but tolerable environment. I worked in a max security prison part time for a year and a half. I work ED solo for over 15 years, physically I am 5'9'', a nickel over 200 and no one has ever accused me of being attractive. Several times I had encounters with prisoners that could have gotten violent. But I did several things when I started. I was never alone with more than one prisoner. I always kept doors open when I saw prisoners. When I went to the lock down segregated unit, there were always 2 correctional officers when I was with a prisoner. I also was issued a device that could be activated if I was in trouble. If I was in common areas with multiple prisoners, I always was cognizant of all around me. I never let anyone violate my personal space. If they got close, I warned them once to back up. If I had a prisoner swear or yell at me, I called the CO of their unit and told them what happened and asked them to institute some sort of demerit (they usually had to wash the urinals in their bathroom for that). I also greeted them professionally, called them mister, made it clear I was there to take care of their health but not any other issues they brought in ie want a low bunk, no onions in the food, etc. I didnt lie to them even when discussions were painful such as being taken off their vicodin because their UDT was negative and Corrections knew they were selling it in the yard or the several that had endstage disease states. I actually diagnosed several inmates with some serious disease and got them to see the appropriate specialists. I advocated for several to get some special accommodations that were reasonable for their chronic conditions. It helped not to know what these individuals are incarcerated for, helped me treat them without any personal biases. I was able to treat several prisoners as human beings despite some very horrible things they did to land in jail. I also befriended all the nurses and as many correctional officers as I could. Never know when someone is going to get you out of a jam vs run for the exit. This is doable. Right before I left, I oriented an NP, very nice, physically attractive woman with children. We talked at length about all of the above. I sat in several times when she saw patients. It helped that she was all business. On the other hand, her sick call was the most popular out of all the providers and I dont think it had to do with her skills as a provider or there were coincidentally more ill prisoners that day. That got modified too by the nurse manager handling triage and essentially tellin many prisoners that there 'cold' that day would have to wait. Good luck with this. I found this invaluable in sharpening the deal with difficult people skillset. Plus I actually felt many times like I was doing something for an underserved population. I also think when you move on to other things, employers look at you and look at this on your resume and will have no reservation about your character in a tough situation. G Brothers PA-C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebero Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 As far as safety, I remember one instructor telling us that working in prison system is less dangerous than working in the ER. Anyone has seen the research? Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sassy27 Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 Gbrothers thank you for your very detailed and thoughtful response. I found it to be very informative. It does make me feel a little better to know that there are usually guards present when you are with a patient but less concerning is my lack of "thick skin" and the fact that I'm not so good at verbally defending myself. Granted I did work in pain management for 3 years in the inner city but the doc usually handled the difficult situations... I have not heard about the prison being safer than the ER but if it is then I should be home free!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z PA-C Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 I encountered an ex-nurse who worked in a prison. She was young and pretty and warned me to stay away from that environment. She said that the inmates would throw urine and semen at her and threatened to have their gang friends kill her and her family. The danger was real enough that she was forced to retire early but now is receiving a retirement package in her 30's where she gets close to, if not her full salary.Now obviously this is not the case at every facility but it is something to think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbrothers98 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I encountered an ex-nurse who worked in a prison. She was young and pretty and warned me to stay away from that environment. She said that the inmates would throw urine and semen at her and threatened to have their gang friends kill her and her family. The danger was real enough that she was forced to retire early but now is receiving a retirement package in her 30's where she gets close to, if not her full salary. Now obviously this is not the case at every facility but it is something to think about. I dont doubt the possibility of urine and semen being thrown or of threats to kill. There are some correctional facilities where the inmates run the show, they just cant get past the walls. I do doubt about a retirement package for someone in their 30s getting a near full salary after being splashed with body fluids. More to the story than just the above. You run the risk of that in every ED in the country and on inpatient floors, at least the urine part. Does illustrate the point of checking things out prior to a committment. Original poster related this was a per diem gig. Could test run a shift or 2 and decide from there. Correctional medicine is definitely not for everyone. G Brothers PA-C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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