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| Nursing newbies |
| By Sarah Etter, News Reporter |
| Published: 05/28/2007 |
Editor's note: As a final "hurrah" to those honored during Correctionals Workers Week, we're re-posting this piece that discusses the challenges and rewards of working in correctional heatlh care. Jumping into the correctional health care field just isn't the same as working at a private practice. But when John Gardner got sick of the crazy hours of the private sector, he turned to corrections to find a new nursing niche. “My brother started working in corrections and I took a few tours,” Gardner explains. “I realized that it could be good for me.” His hunch turned out to be correct. After working a number of different positions at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, he was promoted to his current position, head of nursing. After nursing for more than 18 years, this certified correctional health care professional with a Bachelor of Science in nursing, shares some of his helpful tips. Corrections.com: What is particularly challenging about nursing in corrections? Gardner: There are two major challenges. One is that you are providing health care in an environment where health care is not the number one priority. Security is the number one priority, and health care is the second. That's a big change for most nurses. You have to be aware of that and take it into account. The second challenge is that resources aren't unlimited. In the private sector, you have many resources, but it's different in corrections. You have to provide certain care but you might run short on supplies. Sometimes there is a disparity. CC: Like what? Gardner: Staffing would be a good example. You have a budget for your staff and sometimes the workload increases for tests, but you don't have overtime hours or personnel. So you have to find other ways to make that work. We always provide the care that we need to, but it's usually doing more with less. CC: Do you have any tips for dealing with difficult inmates? Gardner: There is one really important thing to remember; being aware of your perspective is so important. You're going to deal with difficult patients. Sometimes they have a temper and they get upset. But this is how they cope and deal with issues. The thing to remember is not to take it personally. The patients aren't trying to make your day worse. Remember that a large number of these patients have a mental health diagnosis. You need to continue to be professional at all times, no matter what. CC: What are some common mistakes new nurses should watch out for? Gardner: Nurses typically see the difficult patient as a treatment failure on their part. If the patient doesn't respond a certain way, the nurses get frustrated. But you have to understand this is a challenge, not a failure. You have to find the best way to help that patient and it might be a different idea than you originally thought. Don't take it personally. CC: What specific illnesses or issues should be considered when thinking about a nursing career in corrections? Gardner: There are two large areas of practice that nurses should study. The instances of infectious diseases are much greater in corrections than in the general population. Hep C, HIV, MRSA studying up on these will really help them in the corrections. Mental health care is important as well. A significant amount of people in corrections have those issues, and more knowledge in that area will help them in their environment. CC: What's rewarding about this job? Gardner: You're making a big difference in the lives of your patients. You can make a big difference with the health care you provide. They may have only encountered health care personnel once in awhile in their lives. Typically, inmates are very appreciative. Generally, they really like the time you take and the care you provide. CC: What have you learned from your time in corrections? Gardner: You can dramatically improve the health of these patients with basic medical and nursing care. This is our opportunity to make a difference for these patients and for society by improving their health. Correctional health care is a unique and dynamic area. It has been around for hundreds of years, but wasn't recognized as a medical specialty until the 1970s when the Supreme Court ruled health care was required. Now is a great time to get involved in correctional health care because it's a recognized specialty in nursing and medicine. The opportunity for someone to get in on the ground floor in specialty health care can make a huge difference. There are tons of opportunities and institutions throughout the U.S. and the world. If you study and apply, you can become a very knowledgeable national expert with relative ease. It's a very, very young field and the opportunities are endless. Related resources: National Commission on Correctional Health Care About nursing Forums and information for, by and about nurses |
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