CA/ State Prison RN job question

tirzo13 · Oct 8, 2006

you get overtime pay, many nurses now are getting well over 100K now because of overtime.

Sheri257 · Oct 8, 2006

Quick question, most positions for state rn's are salary based, right? if you work over the normal 40 hour work week, overtime that is, you don't get compensated correct? Or do you?

They can mandate you for overtime, but they have to pay either in extra time off or cash. It's time and a half, double time for holidays. It's set by union contract.

:typing

mtgflyboy · Oct 19, 2006

I have an interview today for an RN position at Donovan. I have mixed emotions about working in a correctional facility, no matter how much money they offer. Would appreciate any feedback (good and bad) from anyone who currently works, or has worked at this facility. How safe are the medical staff? Is being a male RN a positive or negative?

I have been told by a couple of Army buddies who work there that it's "the best kept secret in nursing." Any feedback will be very much appreciated!

tirzo13 · Oct 20, 2006

I have an interview today for an RN position at Donovan. I have mixed emotions about working in a correctional facility, no matter how much money they offer. Would appreciate any feedback (good and bad) from anyone who currently works, or has worked at this facility. How safe are the medical staff? Is being a male RN a positive or negative?
I have been told by a couple of Army buddies who work there that it's "the best kept secret in nursing." Any feedback will be very much appreciated!

I have worked at Donovan.

I think Salinas Valley is a way better run prison, as the federal receiver commented also.

San Diego is my home, and i still quit to come back to SVSP.

Its a safe place to work, in general.

No problem being a male nurse, as i am.

Would not say its the best kept secret in nursing, but the pay is pretty good, and the job is pretty brainless, you will lose alot of skills.

but the hours are pretty undemanding, though the RN's are mandated alot at Donovan, while does not seem like they are at SVSP.

mtgflyboy · Oct 21, 2006

I have worked at Donovan.
I think Salinas Valley is a way better run prison, as the federal receiver commented also.
San Diego is my home, and i still quit to come back to SVSP.
Its a safe place to work, in general.
No problem being a male nurse, as i am.
Would not say its the best kept secret in nursing, but the pay is pretty good, and the job is pretty brainless, you will lose alot of skills.
but the hours are pretty undemanding, though the RN's are mandated alot at Donovan, while does not seem like they are at SVSP.

Thanks for the quick and infomative reply! I read in the paper that the salary has been increased to 107K! Is this legit?! I'm not in a position to move right now and, should I be offered a position, want to make sure that "prison life" is right for me! So Donovan will be my only option at present. I didn't become a nurse for the money, but income like that is hard to ignore. How long have you been a Correctional RN? Thanks again!!

tirzo13 · Oct 22, 2006

The federal reciever set the pay.

not sure when it will start, i believe january.

The 107,000 is for the bay area prisons.

CTF, SVSP, San Quintin.

the rest of the state i believe is going to be 97,000, still not bad.

the bay area prisons have a different rate.

If you work in a yard, you will have 3 day weekends every week.

4 ten hour shifts, days, and they don't usually get mandated.

If you work in the CTC/ER its open 24 hours, so you could get a screwed up shift, just like a hospital, and those in the CTC/ER get mandated for overtime, so screws up your plans.

nice thing is you get vested after 5 years with 12.5%, so you could retire at 55.

And no one can really touch the pay.

Outside of the prison pay sucks in san diego.

BigB · Oct 23, 2006

I am an MTA (LVN/peace officer) at folsom prison. Yes, we are being phased out and being replaced with lvn's. As far as RN's go at folsom, its hit or miss. There are some really lazy ones that don't triage any inmates and just send them all to the doctors line, and there are others that are really good. The back stabbing does happen. And the RN turnover rate is extremely high. 8 RN have come and left during the last 6 months. Most of the RN here are brand new hires. After i do the lvn to rn bridge i will work in a CA prison.

jassyj · Oct 23, 2006

I am an MTA (LVN/peace officer) at folsom prison. Yes, we are being phased out and being replaced with lvn's. As far as RN's go at folsom, its hit or miss. There are some really lazy ones that don't triage any inmates and just send them all to the doctors line, and there are others that are really good. The back stabbing does happen. And the RN turnover rate is extremely high. 8 RN have come and left during the last 6 months. Most of the RN here are brand new hires. After i do the lvn to rn bridge i will work in a CA prison.

BigB, are the state lvn's getting paid less than MTA's.

tirzo13 · Oct 24, 2006

Oh yeah, the state LVN will make alot less than the MTA, that is why none of the MTA are going to stay as LVN, they are mostly going to become CO's.

the retirement is 3.0 for the MTA, 2.5 for the LVN.

MTA can retire at 50, LVN at 55.

pay i believe at SVSP is MTA 6800/month, LVN 4000.

none of them are going to stay as LVN.

they are either becoming CO, going back to school for RN, or going to DMH which is keeping the MTA.

surgnurse26 · Oct 25, 2006

the federal reciever set the pay.
not sure when it will start, i believe january.
the 107,000 is for the bay area prisons.
ctf, svsp, san quintin.
the rest of the state i believe is going to be 97,000, still not bad.
the bay area prisons have a different rate.
if you work in a yard, you will have 3 day weekends every week.
4 ten hour shifts, days, and they don't usually get mandated.
if you work in the ctc/er its open 24 hours, so you could get a screwed up shift, just like a hospital, and those in the ctc/er get mandated for overtime, so screws up your plans.
nice thing is you get vested after 5 years with 12.5%, so you could retire at 55.
and no one can really touch the pay.
outside of the prison pay sucks in san diego.

how does base pay come to 97,000. i looked on the cal website and it states abot 5000 a month which comes to about 70000 a year, just wondering where the other 27k is coming from. they post wierd stuff and doesn't seem like the give you a true base quote. what is the starting hourly wage with no shift dif or any other dif.

can someone please clarify for me?

registered nurse, cf - 9275

examination information continued

bulletin release date: 12/15/05

continuous filing

revised: 12/28/05

revised: 7/7/06

salary

$6,635.14

* per month

*

this salary includes pay differential enhancements to the base salary as authorized

december 1, 2005, and applies to all registered nurse, cf appointed to adult

institutions and division of correctional health care services.

*effective february 1, 2006, the above salary which includes pay differential

enhancements to the base salary has been authorized to all registered nurse, cf

appointed to juvenile institutions within the division of juvenile justice.

additionally *r & r bonuses are offered at various adult facilities throughout the state

as indicated below:

•

$200 paid monthly at salinas valley state prison and correctional training facility.

•

$1,500 one-time payment upon completion of one (1) qualifying pay period (applies to

those appointed new to state service on or after 1/1/03).

•

$1,500 one-time payment upon completion of six (6) consecutive qualifying pay

periods (applies to those appointed new to state service on or after 1/1/03).

•

$1,000 one-time payment upon completion of 18 consecutive qualifying pay periods

(applies to those appointed new to state service on or after 1/1/03).

*the above sign on bonus are not applicable to registered nurses hired with the

division of juvenile justice

.

base salary

range a: $4,349.00

- $5,098.00 per month

range b: $4,609.00

- $5,423.00 per month

benefits

tirzo13 · Oct 26, 2006

they have not raised the pay yet, as i stated in my post that you quoted.

it has not happened yet.

its going to be raised to 97,000-107,000.

the rates of 6600 a month is the current rate.

cowboylover · Oct 26, 2006

Not worked for those.
i worked for Donovan in san diego, and i have been at salinas valley for about a year.
donovan was bad.
SVSP is good, more teamwork, less backstabbing.
feel safer too, even though its a higher level prison than SD.
next year the RN are going to make 100k/year.

Are you kidding me?? 100/k a year. I'm in management and don't make anywhere near that.