More than 3,000 RNs and LPNs have embraced both the advantages and challenges of a correctional nursing job with CMS.
Everyone has a different story, but for Dana Reed it was her daughter who got her hooked. Dana had been working as an RN at a local hospital in Lexington, Kentucky and while she was good at what she did, she was looking for something more - maybe another RN job. She enjoyed helping her patients, but was getting a little tired of the physical demands of her job and the sheer mundane routine of it all. Her daughter, Tonia was also an RN and encouraged Dana to join her as a correctional nurse at the Lexington-Fayette County Detention Center. She kept going on about the facility, what a good job it was and how she wanted her mom to give it a try.
At first, Dana was a little skeptical. After all, Tonia was talking about working in a jail. Sure, she saw Tonia go to work with a smile on her face, but could it really be that way for her? Nagging doubts aside, Dana decided to give it a try for her daughter's sake. Seven years later, Dana says she wouldn't give up being a correctional nurse for anything.
"The first day I was as skeptical as anyone, but now I am a huge advocate for correctional nursing," said Dana. "I love my job and there isn't anything I would change about it."
With over 3,000 correctional nurses in more than 250 field medical units, RNs and LPNs from all corners of the country have walked through the doors of Correctional Medical Services, Inc. (CMS), a national leader in the provision of correctional healthcare services. The one thing many of the company's nurses will tell you is that they simply love what they do.
Why? What exactly is so great about being a correctional nurse and going to work in a prison or a jail each day? Talk to a few of those who have chosen nursing jobs with CMS and you'll quickly find out why correctional nursing is one of the most rapidly growing specialties in healthcare today.
Variety in your role
Beth Wrobel, an RN at Polk County Department of Detention in Bartow, Florida, says it's the variety in her day that is appealing. After seven years of working in a hospital, Beth says she appreciates the variety of activities.
"Every day, I'm doing something different," said Beth. "One day I could be starting IVs and getting medications, the next day I could be dealing with a patient with chest pain and using my critical thinking skills. It's not like at a hospital where you're doing your usual rounds and dealing with bedpans and bedsores. Here, you get to do a lot of different things using all of your skills, and it's really exciting because you never know what tomorrow may bring."
Dana agrees, saying the varied nature of services correctional nurses provide—from routine health maintenance to end-of-life to emergency, preventive care and education—translates into professional growth.
"We transfer acute cases to the hospital, but otherwise you see the full spectrum of patients—from routine cough and colds to patients with chronic conditions," said Dana. "I never know what kind of patient situations I'm going to run into here so your assessment skills have to be top notch. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me wanting to learn."
Teamwork without sacrificing autonomy
A knowledgeable, skilled nurse is an invaluable asset to a good healthcare team. Many CMS nurses say they appreciate the chance to use their own clinical judgment while enjoying the benefit of professional collaboration.
"You don't work ‘for' the doctors, you work with them here," said Grace Wallace, Director of Nursing at Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in Grants, New Mexico. "It's a nice partnership. Our nurses follow the nursing protocols and get to use all of their nursing skills without someone constantly looking over their shoulders and micro-managing every detail. You have to be a good nurse and work well with the other nurses and doctors, but if you are good at what you do, you'll probably enjoy it here."
Given that many of us spend the majority of our waking hours at work, having co-workers you get along with can make it easier. Even better if they sometimes become like family.
"We get to establish very good bonds with each other," said Beth. "In a big hospital you may see your boss once a day for five minutes on the floor. Our boss is right here with us, and we work with the same doctors everyday, so it's not like you're working with whoever happens to be on call that day. It's really a tight group. My husband is a firefighter, and I never really understood that type of brotherhood until I started working for CMS. We've become a family here and look out for each other."
Opportunity
With more than 200 sites in 19 states, CMS nurses say they find plenty of opportunity to advance their careers and expand their horizons.
"There are a lot of options if you want to move up," said Grace. "I started off as a staff nurse when I began in corrections in 1989 and worked my way up. You can move up at the site level, regional level or even take on a clinical leadership position at CMS' corporate office in St. Louis. It's a big company…you have the opportunity to branch out if you want to take the initiative."
Patty Hatton, an LPN at Lexington-Fayette County Detention Center in Kentucky, says working with CMS has meant the ability to expand her horizons in ways she had never imagined.
"CMS has enabled me to travel and see different things that I may not have seen otherwise," said Patty. "I've traveled to eight different states to provide help and training with new contracts, and it's been a good learning experience. The trips exposed me to different settings and different ideas, and all that helps you become a better nurse yourself."
Benefits
For some, the advantages of being a correctional nurse are underscored by the generous benefits package CMS provides. Benefits include five weeks of Paid Time Off (PTO), tuition reimbursement, a 401k plan and a suite of medical, dental and vision insurance options.
Grace said she is appreciative of the benefits offered by CMS and feel they have served her well. "CMS' benefits are better than a lot of others that are out there," said Grace. "The PTO they give you is good and that's one of the most important things you look at. They do a pretty good job of taking care of us."
Challenges
Of course, no job is perfect. Correctional nursing, just like any other career path, has its challenges. Like first getting comfortable with the idea of working in a correctional environment, learning to multi-task well, and dealing with the challenges of inmate patients – namely limited access to prior healthcare services.
Perhaps the biggest challenge of all is dealing with the misconceptions people have about what it's like to work in corrections.
"People think working in a prison or a jail is dangerous, but I don't think that at all," said Grace. "Look, here you know who you are dealing with and you are in a secure environment with officers everywhere. You don't have that out on the street, where you don't know who can walk through that door and you don't have anyone there watching your back. If you ask me, working in corrections is much better than working out there. And usually nurses who come here and see how it truly is, feel comfortable and are happy to be here."
Patty says she's also heard all the stereotypes out there, but says she's glad she found correctional nursing and can feel proud of what she does each day.
"People don't realize or think about the fact that there are people here with serious issues like cancer, diabetes, or heart disease just like in regular clinics," said Patty. "The inmates generally treat you with respect and appreciate what you do for them. Most of them haven't had much medical care before so you feel like you are accomplishing something….I've been here almost 15 years and want to stay here until I retire. I'll retire and then go into the nursing home, but until that day comes, I'm happy right where I am."
Contact us today for more information on the benefits of a career in correctional nursing, or go directly to Quick Apply and send us your resume.