Travel nursing offers a variety of paths, from fast-paced hospital floors to structured correctional facilities. This guide compares corrections nursing vs bedside nursing, highlighting pay, schedules, patient care, and work environment to help you decide which path fits your skills and lifestyle.
Bedside nursing is a familiar path and one that most follow, yet there is growing interest in correctional nursing. It might be the best-kept secret in travel nursing. Though it isn’t glamorous, our travelers appreciate the autonomy found in correctional healthcare.
As a corrections nurse, you provide healthcare to inmates in correctional institutions across the country. You’ll be the first point of contact for intake exams, medication administration, and determining whether further care is needed from a specialist. You may assess the patient’s mental health and chronic conditions to determine if they need additional care. This specialty requires experienced nurses who can assess patients and handle their needs with limited supplies, often working with only a handful of medical professionals.
Corrections Nursing Vs Bedside Nursing
Understanding the distinct characteristics of each environment helps you determine which path aligns with your professional goals and personal preferences.
Bedside Nursing
Bedside nursing in a hospital setting involves fast-paced, clinical, patient-facing environments across many departments. You’ll have interaction with other departments, patients, families, and visitors, creating a dynamic and social workplace.
Corrections Nursing
Corrections nursing includes state and county jails, prisons, and detention centers. The environment emphasizes structure, security, and control. Your interaction centers on custody staff and medical professionals, with limited visitors and outside distractions.
Whether you’re a hospital nurse or a corrections nurse, practicing proper traveler etiquette is essential for success. Being on time for your shifts demonstrates professionalism and respect for the facility and permanent staff. Accept and follow the facility’s established processes, remembering you’re there to supplement staff, not to overhaul their system. Being proactive in learning the unit’s culture and policies and maintaining confidentiality about your pay both contribute to positive relationships and successful assignments.
Pay Breakdown
According to ZipRecruiter, correctional nurses earn an average of $46.03 per hour nationally, with annual salaries averaging $95,749. The salary range typically falls between $87,500 at the 25th percentile and $100,000 at the 75th percentile, with top earners making $131,000 annually.
Corrections contracts are at a 15-20% increase over Med Surg and 15-20% increase over Psych. They pay approximately 5-10% less than ICU and are similar to ER pay rates.
Patient Type and Focus
The patient populations you’ll serve and your daily focus differ significantly between these two nursing environments.
Bedside Nursing
Hospital nurses care for short-term patients with varying levels of needs and diagnoses. You’ll experience frequent admissions and discharges, keeping the work environment constantly changing.
Corrections Nursing
Correctional nursing involves a stable patient population with longer-term needs. You’ll address chronic conditions, mental health needs, and substance abuse, allowing you to develop ongoing relationships with patients and witness the long-term impact of your care.
Scope of Practice
Your daily responsibilities and level of autonomy differ substantially between hospital and corrections settings.
Bedside
Hospital nurses coordinate care, assess patients, and administer medication. The role includes frequent charting due to patient turnover and quick emergency response as part of a collaborative team.
Corrections
Corrections nurses perform sick and chronic care assessments, intake screenings, and medication administration. The position offers more autonomy in clinical decisions, allowing you to work independently. Emergency response follows specific protocols that include security support, adding a unique safety dimension to critical situations.
Schedule and Hours
Work schedules impact your work-life balance and daily routine in distinct ways across these settings.
Bedside
Hospital schedules often include nights, weekends, and holidays. Twelve-hour shifts are common in certain specialties, requiring flexibility in your personal schedule.
Corrections
Eight-hour shifts are common in corrections, offering more predictable schedules with fewer last-minute changes. This consistency appeals to nurses seeking better work-life balance and established routines.
Where Will You Thrive?
Choosing the right environment depends on your personality, professional strengths, and career aspirations.
Bedside
You enjoy a patient population that varies and the ability to work with other specialties and units. You like a faster pace and being able to collaborate with a team.
Corrections
You enjoy being able to use your skills to make decisions independently. You are comfortable with predictability and boundaries. You are looking for a change outside a traditional hospital setting.
For more on what it’s like to be a corrections nurse, read our Interview with Rachel.
FAQs
What type of training do I need for Corrections?
Typically, your RN or LPN license and 1-2 years of clinical experience in ER, Psych, or ICU. You can also get your CCHP certification to validate your expertise in the correctional setting.
Will this hurt my experience if I want to go back to a hospital setting?
No, it shows that you have high-level triage and assessment skills that managers in the hospital setting look for.
Are the security settings stricter than in a hospital?
Yes, you will follow strict protocols, which include leaving your phones and electronics in lockers outside, going through interlocking gates, and passing through security when you walk in and out.
How would you compare the rate of activity or clinical pace between bedside and correctional nursing?
Bedside can be physically demanding and high-intensity. It is often quick-moving with multiple things happening at once. This will often differ depending on the unit/specialty you are in. Corrections are often more consistent, similar to a mix of urgent care or public health.
Does the inmate vs. patient experience affect the job in corrections nursing?
It can be an adjustment at first, but our corrections nurses suggest setting clear boundaries and sticking to policies and procedures. Be courteous and pleasant, but not overly friendly, and end your visit if an inmate is unprofessional.
It’s a Personal Choice
Both bedside and corrections nursing offer rewarding career paths with distinct advantages. Bedside nursing provides variety, team collaboration, and exposure to diverse patient populations and specialties. Correctional nursing offers autonomy, predictability, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the healthcare of an underserved population.
Your choice depends on your personality, professional goals, and preferred work environment. Consider what matters most to you: the dynamic pace and collaborative nature of hospitals or the independent decision-making and structured environment of corrections facilities.
Curious about exploring corrections nursing or other travel specialties?
Browse current travel healthcare opportunities on the job board to see where your skills could take you next. Whether you’re interested in hospital roles or correctional healthcare assignments, you can explore openings across the country and connect with recruiters who specialize in your field.
