Getting the job
Congratulations! You did it, you finally applied for a Correctional Nursing position at your local county jail or maybe one of many State Correctional Facilities but there is only one problem, you have no clue what the hell they do and what they might ask you in this interview. It can definitely be stressful to think of all the 'what if' scenarios' but if your only reference might be "Orange is the New Black" from Netflix, it can be a little difficult. Being prepared is key so I'll go over some of the most common topics that come up in a correctional setting. Whether you are a brand new nurse or even a seasoned veteran in the field, I hope you will find this information useful. Many correctional facilities are State and County operated but there are also plenty of privately run facilities as well. Expect a panel interview, common with government jobs, possibly with Charge Nurses, regular staff and maybe some administrators. My own interview had two charge nurses, our clinical nurse manager and one regular staff nurse. The thought of having several pairs of eyes patiently watching you as you formulate an answer on the spot can be a little daunting, but I soon realized they only read predetermined questions off a list. Correctional Interviews can be broken down into one of two types of questions
REMEMBER THIS: They do not expect you to know the specifics about Jail and Prison! They don't expect you to have read a policy and procedures manual but it certainly does help if you at least have a basic understanding of the population and common themes found in this environment. A little preparation will show you put a little extra effort into the interview process, which speaks volumes about you as a Nurse and individual.
The Population
Understanding the population of the Correctional system can allow a nurse to identify potential medical issues specific to that group that may need to be addressed immediately or monitored through close observation. There is a wide spectrum of people within the Correctional system. Many Prisons/Jails are able to house the following:
Common Medical Problems
Majority of the inmates found in jail suffer from the same common illnesses as their hospital counterparts. As a result, many institutions implement standardized procedures to address these health issues. You, as a prospective nurse, do not know any of these standard procedures. What you do know is how to effectively assess an individual based on the medical history and presentation. The following are some of the most common medical problems found in correctional settings:
These are no different than the medical conditions you have studied and encountered throughout numerous nursing textbooks. Employers want to know that you know the fundamentals and can readily identify signs and symptoms of a worsening condition before it becomes unmanageable. And more importantly, aside from being able to assess for possible complications they also want to know that you can implement nursing interventions to manage the condition.
Substance Abuse
One of the most common charges of people I see booked in the county jail is possession of illegal substances ie. drugs and public intoxication. This can mean a few things for us nurses. Assessments can be misleading if the individual is currently under the influence of illegal substances. Signs and symptoms can drastically be altered as a result. You do not have to be an expert at drug use but you do need to know the potential complications as a result of habitual use and immediate cessation while in Jail. Many individuals may be reluctant to verbally admit they are under the influence because they think they will be given extra charges. Despite this fact, you must do your best to develop your nursing plan around the signs and symptoms you observe. Common illicit substances and things to look for
Mental Health Disorders
Mental Health illnesses have grown in prevalence among this population. A 2017 study by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that roughly 44% of inmates had a history of mental health disorders. The biggest concerns regarding mental health illnesses include harming oneself or harming others as it puts individuals in immediate danger. Proper identification of those with mental health problems can assist in getting treatment or medication sooner rather than later. The following are some of the most common mental health disorders found in the Jail/Prison setting:
It is important that you can assess the signs and symptoms of a worsening condition as well as the associated risks. It is not your job to diagnose an individual but instead help identify the needs of a person in a potential crisis.
Questions about you as an individual
These particular type of questions help the interviewers gauge how well you will work within this type of setting alongside the other team members. For the most part it is important that they get a sense of a great work ethic and that they are hiring a team player. Additionally these are common questions asked in a variety of job interviews. I wouldn't call them generic but you can definitely draw from past experiences to help answer these questions. Why do you want to work here? This is definitely more open ended, but we all know what is not the correct answer: the money. Some things that can help set you apart is the desire to work in a new setting that you might find challenging because there is a new learning curve. For example you could discuss how you would like to work with the underserved population. Name a time you had a disagreement with another employee and how you resolved it? This is a common occurrence in the work place environment. Disagreements can happen often but what employers are looking for is that everyone can work as a team to find a solution or compromise. It is not always easy to confront someone regarding a disagreement but the ability to acknowledge their perspective on a subject then finding a compromise is invaluable. Tell us about yourself? This is not your chance to talk about recent episodes of the latest netflix series you are binge watching at this time, but it is your chance to discuss some of the distinguishing qualities of yourself as a person that translates over into your work ethic as a nurse. There are certain traits and characteristics that make employers more confident in hiring you. Key take aways:
Feeling a little more confident armed with the above information? Take the next step with the downloadable study guide that you can take with you anywhere found on the link below
Included in the Study Guide: - Common Questions and answers to them - Specific concerns for Alcohol, Opiates and illicit drugs including explanations of withdrawal symptoms - Additional tips and information of the interview process to help you ace the interview - Includes specific examples of different types of questions and common scenarios Additionally one on one emails are included to help guide you through the process in case you have additional questions! The All You Need to Know: Correctional Health Nurse Interview Guide If you happen to have any questions or comments please send me a message and good luck to you on your journey to becoming a Corrections Nurse.
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