Career Exploration Beyond the Bedside

September 1, 2025

Welcome to this edition of The Nontraditional Nurse Newsletter!

​

The Nontraditional Nurse spotlight

Meet Andrew Craig, RN — a travel nurse turned recruiter turned correctional nurse. With over a decade of bedside and nontraditional experience, Andrew found his most fulfilling role in one of the most misunderstood corners of nursing: jail-based care.
​

“ You're a little bit of a light in a place that can feel really, really dark. ​ And so that feels really cool to be... showing up for people in those places. ​ — Andrew Craig, RN

​

In this episode, Andrew walks us through his journey to becoming a nurse at a county jail in Iowa — what surprised him, what challenged him, and why he genuinely enjoys showing up to work every day.

Key Takeaways

The safety concerns are real — but often misunderstood.

Andrew emphasized that jails are typically well-staffed with officers, and incidents of violence against staff are rare. “If you've ever heard the phrase working in the jail is safer than working in the ER at the hospital, I 100 % believe that."
​
​You can make a real difference in people’s lives.

Many patients in jail have never had consistent medical care. You can become the most impactful person in terms of their primary care needs as well as caring for chronic conditions, detoxing, pregnancy management, and urgent concerns.

Compassion and nonjudgment are essential.

Nurses must be able to set aside judgment and show up with empathy. It is important to be aware of personal bias and treat your patients with the same care and respect that you would in any other setting.
​
​Correctional nursing can be one of the most rewarding paths nurses don’t hear enough about.

Andrew shared that many nurses in corrections (including himself) report high job satisfaction. While the setting may sound intimidating, many find a strong sense of purpose, fulfillment, and balance in this role.

Career Deep Dive

​
What Correctional Nursing Is:

Nursing in jails or prisons, where you manage chronic conditions, perform assessments, handle triage, and coordinate specialty referrals, all inside secure facilities.

​
Types of Correctional Facilities and Why They Matter for Nurses

Not all correctional settings are the same. Where you work can have a big impact on your experience.

• Jail (typically county or local): These facilities house individuals awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Turnover is high, medical histories may be unknown, and substance withdrawal is common. Nurses often handle rapid intake assessments, detox protocols, and urgent triage. (Andrew works in a jail.)
  ​
• Prison (state or federal): Prisons house individuals serving longer-term sentences. You’ll see more chronic disease management and have more continuity of care. There’s typically a structured routine and more predictable patient population, which allows for deeper relationships and proactive care planning.
  ​
• Juvenile facilities: These centers care for minors in the justice system. Nurses here often balance physical health, mental health, and developmental needs, requiring extra communication skills and trauma-informed care approaches.
  ​
• ICE detention centers or federal holding facilities: These facilities may house individuals awaiting immigration proceedings or transfers. Language barriers, varied health histories, and complex legal situations can add layers of challenge and importance to your role.
  ​
• Private vs. public facilities: Some correctional healthcare is outsourced to private companies. That can influence your employment benefits, staffing levels, and protocols, and it’s something worth asking about when researching jobs.

​

Skills that Translate Well:

✔️ Triage & critical thinking

✔️ The ability to be calm under pressure and deescalate

✔️ Communication & empathy

✔️ Teaching & education
​

Can be a great fit for nurses with:

• Experience in acute care, ER, or med-surg

• Comfort working independently

• A nonjudgmental attitude and emotional resilience

• A sense of purpose in serving overlooked populations

​

Nursing skills to leverage:

• Independent triage judgement: In correctional settings, nurses are often the first and only clinical touchpoint. You’ll need to quickly assess symptoms, determine urgency, and make decisions without a provider at your side. Think about times when you have done this in your past nursing roles.
  ​
• Managing chronic conditions with limited resources: With patients frequently staying months to years, you’ll manage everything from diabetes to hypertension, often without immediate access to specialists. Creativity, clinical reasoning, and patient education become essential tools.
  ​
• Flexibility and quick thinking: No two days look the same in corrections. You may go from detox management to wound care to urgent mental health triage, and being able to adapt is crucial in this dynamic, unpredictable environment. Think about situations where you have shown adaptability to prepare for an interview.
  ​
• Communication and de-escalation skills: Tense situations happen, but nurses skilled in calm, clear communication can prevent escalation and build trust. If you have had experience with deescalating situations in the past, this would be a great scenario to bring up to a hiring manager.
  ​
• Strong boundaries and empathy: Correctional nurses walk a fine line between compassion and caution. Building rapport without over-identifying, and delivering care without judgment, allows you to be effective while maintaining professionalism and safety.
  ​

How Much Experience Do You Need?

While some correctional facilities do hire new graduate nurses, Andrew recommends having at least some bedside experience before stepping into this role. Correctional nursing often requires strong independent triage judgment and the ability to work autonomously, skills that typically develop with clinical exposure.

Andrew shared that backgrounds in med-surg or the emergency department can be especially helpful. These roles prepare nurses to handle a wide variety of patient presentations, manage chronic and acute conditions, and make quick decisions without immediate backup — all of which translate well to corrections.

​

Getting Started in Corrections Nursing:

Start by researching and understanding which type of facility you are hoping to work at. Corrections nursing can look very different depending on whether you’re working in a jail (short-term, high turnover), state prison (longer-term care with chronic disease management), or federal facility (often more stable with structured protocols). Understanding the differences helps you target the right fit.
​

Look for openings on state and county websites. Most positions are posted through government job boards, correctional healthcare contractors, or county hiring portals. It’s not always on Indeed or traditional healthcare sites, so a little digging pays off. Andrew found out about his current role on a Facebook group!
​

Tailor your resume to highlight autonomy and triage. Andrew emphasized the need for nurses who can work independently and make quick clinical decisions. Highlight any experience with triage, emergency response, or managing complex patients with limited resources.​
​

Ask about orientation and support.Some facilities offer structured onboarding, while others may expect you to hit the ground running. Don’t be afraid to ask about training, backup protocols, and safety measures during your interview.
​

Talk with current corrections nurses at the facility. Andrew recommends asking to do a shadow shift to get a real feel for the environment, team culture, and daily responsibilities. Firsthand insight is invaluable.

​
Salary

Correctional nurses in the U.S. earn a competitive wage, averaging approximately $46/hour—or around $95,749/year—based on ZipRecruiter’s recent data. 

​Vivian Health suggests correctional nurses earn about $48.35/hour, roughly 10% above the national nursing average of $43.65. 
​
​Glassdoor reports a median total pay of about $96,000/year, with top earners reaching $113,000.

Across the board, correctional nursing reportedly pays well above entry-level RN roles, especially in high-cost regions. Salaries typically fall between $90K–$120K annually, with potential to reach even higher in premium locales or with added shifts or experience.

​

Thanks for reading! We are very excited to be moving to a cadence of two newsletters per month, due to feedback for more nontraditional career information! Keep an eye out for another newsletter mid-month!

​

Until next time,

Ellie & The Nontraditional Nurse Team

​