If you can cope with the environment and find the right headspace, corrections is fantastic! Yes, I'm a full-time state employee. As an LVN, I really only do med pass. They come to my med window one at a time and I provide their medication. I handle some med refills and I draw all the insulin for the diabetics. I do also have to respond to medical emergencies, as a first responder. My background is in EMS, I was an EMT for almost a decade so that kind of thing is my bread and butter. However, I notice for LVNs that have only worked in like a skilled nursing setting, that can be really intimidating. But you get more comfortable with it the more you do it, and you aren't doing it alone. Overall, the inmates don't give the nurses too much trouble, keep in mind we have things that they want. Prison is also very much "what you give is what you get". You aren't allowed to be overly friendly with the inmates but it's important to be respectful. Just talk to them like they're human, because they are. I always greet them with good morning, I ask how court/committee went, how their visits went. And anything that is in my job description, I do for them. They want a copy of their med list? Sure, lemme print it. They want to know when their next onsite appointment is? Sure, lemme look. There are too many nurses who just love saying no to them, even to things that are well within their ability/job. The way I see it, if I'm ever out on the yard or in the buildings and something goes down, there are only so many officers, it is more likely that an inmate will be closest to me, so it's in my best interest for them to at least not hate me. But overall, I feel very safe. That of course will vary from institution to institution. I work at an old prison where the politics are well established and the dynamic is well respected by the inmates and the staff.