Nomadic Nurse Diaries

Dear Prison Wardens of Growth,

Working in corrections nursing has been an eye-opening experience, and it’s given me a fresh perspective on the healthcare industry itself. Coming from the world of for-profit hospitals, where every detail is accounted for on a bill, corrections feels like a different planet. In my old hospital, everything came with a price tag—a tube of chapstick, for instance, cost $30. That’s right: $30 to ease a pair of dry lips. And it wasn’t just chapstick. We were trained to document, charge, and justify every single item and procedure, constantly navigating an environment where the bottom line often felt like the real priority. Here, I don’t have to worry about marking down every small thing I use, and it feels strangely freeing to focus on what patients actually need rather than what will generate revenue.

Corrections healthcare certainly has its own unique challenges—especially limited resources and a very different patient population—but it’s taught me some invaluable lessons. Here are five things I’ve come to appreciate in this role:

1. No Profit Pressure: Unlike the for-profit hospitals and clinics we nurses know all too well, there’s no pressure here to nickel-and-dime patients. I mean, at my last job, chapstick was a shocking $30 a tube. That’s right—$30 for lip balm! In corrections, I don’t have to charge patients for every little thing, and it feels good to only do what’s necessary, not what’s profitable.

2. Instinct & Confidence Boost: My assessment skills were rock solid from the ICU, where head-to-toe exams happened every four hours because our patients were that critical. But here, with no quick access to tests, I have to rely on my instincts and my gut, especially since my patients, well, lie about 99.99% of the time. I don’t get that instant test confirmation, so I’m either right or I’m not—and each time I’m right, my confidence grows. It’s been an unexpected but rewarding way to build a new level of trust in myself.

3. Clinic Skills: I’ve picked up some new hands-on skills that I definitely didn’t use in the ICU. Splinting broken bones, for example—that’s a new one. Bandaging wounds with limited supplies has taught me a conservative approach to wound care, forcing me to get creative and practical. It’s the little things that make you adaptable!

4. Autonomy: ICU nursing gave me plenty of independence, but it’s another level here. Especially after office hours when the clinic providers are gone, I’m the one calling the shots. It’s humbling and empowering to know that I’m trusted to manage things, even with limited resources and fewer backup options.

5. Psych Med Alternatives: In the prison, certain psych meds are off-limits, which has introduced me to an entirely new world of off-label medication uses. It’s fascinating to learn about these alternative options, especially for psych-related care, and it’s broadened my perspective on mental health treatment.

Working in corrections isn’t for everyone, but I’ve found a whole new side to healthcare here—one that isn’t tied to profits but to a more straightforward kind of patient care. There’s something refreshing about being able to work with fewer distractions and a more independent scope, even if the challenges can feel steep at times. This job has reminded me why I went into nursing in the first place and how much I value direct, meaningful interactions with patients, even in such an unconventional setting.

Until next time,

Your Chapstick-Free, Gut-Reliant Nomadic Nurse