Correctional Nurse Job Description Template

Correctional nurses provide nursing care to individuals who have been incarcerated. They act as critical members of correctional facility healthcare teams, often managing care plans and delivering treatments — while following strict security protocols. When writing a correctional nurse job description, it’s important to be accurate and thorough so that you find a nurse who can succeed in the position.

This guide provides a sample correctional facility nurse job description that you can further customize to reflect your organization’s specific requirements. Consider exploring how other prisons and detention centers are recruiting nurses to ensure your post is competitive in the current nursing job market. When you reach the interview phase of your hiring process, ask targeted correctional nurse interview questions to identify the best RN for your team.

Correctional Nurse Job Description

Tips: Begin your corrections nurse job description by providing a brief overview of your correctional facility and healthcare delivery system. Introduce the position by giving insight into the role and how it fits with the team.

If you’re seeking an RN to work under minimal supervision or oversee other team members, state this in your introduction. While some nurses will be looking for positions that offer high levels of autonomy, others may not yet have enough clinical expertise to take on that level of responsibility.

You’ll also want to give candidates relevant highlights about your institution, so that job seekers can understand what may be rewarding about the position. While it’s considered a challenging nursing specialty, it can also be rewarding for those who are called to it.

Template:

[Correctional facility name] is seeking an RN to join our dedicated care team. We are a correctional complex housing 150 incarcerated adults under low to high security levels. Our commitment to safety guides all aspects of care delivery. We’re seeking an RN who can deliver primary healthcare services to our inmates, respond to health emergencies, and supervise staff LPNs and medication aides. Deliver care that greatly impacts the rehabilitation pathways of individuals in this rewarding position.

Benefits

Tips: In this section, you’ll list the advantages of working for your institution. Consider including any unique fringe benefits you offer, which may help your job post stand out. Nurses will be considering their quality of life as they weigh your job opening alongside others.

Template:

• Comprehensive health insurance
• 401k retirement plan
• Loan forgiveness program
• Employee assistance program offering wellness support, financial planning, and legal assistance
• Discounted membership to local gym and aquatics center
• Free local bus pass
• Childcare assistance program
• Relocation package

Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: Correctional nurses may have to provide care that spans several specialties, including psychiatric nursing, chronic care management, and emergency nursing. There’s about two times the prevalence of psychiatric conditions in jails and prisons than in the general public, with an estimated two out of every five inmates having a history of a mental illness. This patient population also has higher-than-average rates of chronic conditions, including asthma, cancer, Hepatitis C, and HIV. When emergencies occur, the staff RN may be expected to deliver emergency care until additional help arrives.

Because they’re responsible for such a wide range of tasks, it may be difficult to list all of the duties that your staff nurses perform during their shifts. Focus on including core responsibilities in your correctional nurse job description rather than trying to create a comprehensive list.

Template:

• Address the acute and chronic healthcare needs of incarcerated individuals
• Develop and implement care plans for individuals with chronic conditions and/or behavioral health needs
• Conduct initial health assessments on new inmates
• Perform recurring health assessments, including lab draws and diagnostic procedures
• Oversee medication administration procedures
• Adhere to [Correctional facility name]correctional nursing protocols related to treatment of substance use disorders and provision of trauma-informed care
• Supervise staff LPNs and medication aides
• Provide on-site emergency response while adhering to security protocols
• Collaborate with correctional officers to ensure staff and inmate safety
• Advocate for the health, safety, and wellbeing of incarcerated individuals

Compensation and Schedule

Tips: This section of your correctional nursing job description should describe the job’s schedule and pay range. Given the persistent nursing shortages in many areas of the country, offering competitive pay may help your facility attract qualified candidates.

Corrections nurse salary ranges vary widely depending on licensure and administrative duties. For example, an RN responsible for supervising other healthcare team members may earn a significantly higher wage than an LPN with no managerial duties.

Template:

• Salary range: $75,000 – $82,000 annually
• 36 hours per week, 12-hour day shift (7 am – 7 pm)
• Every other weekend required, with shift differential applied
• Location: [Insert town/city, state, and country]

Skills and Qualifications

Tips: Use this section to elaborate on the clinical skills and nursing qualifications necessary for success in the role. Correctional nurse qualifications often include Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. This is because nurses at detention centers are frequently the first medical professional on scene when an inpatient requires CPR.

Consider listing correctional nurse requirements separately from preferences. This will help you avoid discouraging nurses who don’t check all your boxes — but would still be a great fit for the job.

Template:

Required:

• Associate degree in nursing (ADN)
• 1-3 years of nursing experience in the correctional setting
• Experience providing supervision and oversight to healthcare teams
• BLS certification
• Active and unencumbered RN license in [State]

Prefered:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Experience in emergency nursing, with CEN or TCRN highly valued
• Experience in psychiatric nursing
• Professional background related to public health nursing, including infectious disease prevention, tracking, and reporting
• Correctional nurse certification, such as Certified Correctional Health Professional – Nursing (CCHP-N) certification

Call to Action

Tips: Finish your correctional facility nurse job description by encouraging qualified nurses to apply. Promote engagement with your post by giving clear directions for the application process.

Template:

Interested in providing compassionate care to incarcerated individuals? Make a difference every day as a correctional nurse at our facility. Click “apply now” to begin your application today.

Recruit Qualified Nursing Professionals Today

Writing an organized and thorough correctional nurse job description is an essential recruitment step, but finding qualified nursing staff can be challenging. Make your hiring process faster and easier by connecting with our network of over 1 million nursing professionals looking for meaningful work.