do the correctionals hire new grads?

About 90 percent of correctional nursing is how you carry yourself. Set limits early and word will get out. You will definitely be tested by inmates, but if you show them that you are going to work by the rules that will slow to a trickle. I read a couple of very pessimistic assessments earlier in this thread, and all I can say is that I'm glad I never worked where those people have. I have worked in and around corrections for almost 30 years, and only the last eight have been as a nurse. I was once a correctional officer in a medium security prison and I have worn some other hats as well.

The ironic thing is that I went into nursing to get out of corrections, and I wound up right back in it. It has been an interesting career to say the least. If you find the right spot it can be the best job you ever had.

working in min security is much different then max. I have seen tough nurses get beat and nurses who are less tough get beat, you have to remember these men have not been with a woman in years. They dont even give the nurses walkie talkies to communicate with officers even they are to be with you. The guard was with me when I had urine, feces and sperm thrown on me. what can you do to him he was already in the hole. Where I worked we had to wear dresses, I objected this because you have to walk up tiers and inmates and officers look up and both make comments. I left there because it was not a safe environment no amount of money is worth getting beaten or raped. The prisons need to come up with a way to safe guard the nurses and female officers. Inmates have thrown a female officer off top tier. she died. Again I say it is NO place for a new grad.

i grew up in the streets, so i got alot of street smarts, and street cred. if you grow up in the burbs, its going to be really hard to make it. Even with knowing how to handle and carry yourself, knowing how to give respect, knowing how to earn respect does not keep things from happening to you in this environment.
you can handle getting punched or urine thrown on you better, but does not keep it from happening to you.
I been spit on and threatened, i have had shot callers look out for me, some requested favors that they did not get, some did it because the last nurse they had did not even say "whats up" to them.
but still, some guys won't even listen to the shot callers.
so you have to weigh the risks.

increase in pay, different but less physical work then hospitals (don't want people yelling at me for saying its easier!!!!), helping murders and rapist vs helping victims, getting body fluids and assaulted vs. whatever is the worse that can happen to you at a hospital.

I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but there is good and bad in everything.
i myself would rather know what the bad is.

if you date a man or women, don't you want to know the bad things about them. thats what is going to hurt you, the good should be a given.
I myself want full disclosure about things, not just sugar coated.

I am not sugar coating it. If it is something you really want to do then by all means do it. They have nothing but time to think of things to get your information, and follow your routine. If this is what you want good luck to you. Just have eyes and ears open. good luck with what ever you do.

tirzo13 I have been reading all your posts on correctional nursing and was initially interested due to the pay. However being a female re entry nurse I was also very intimidated. In one of your posts you mention the Yountville veterans home and your interest in working for the veterans. Are you working there now? I have been working at a blood bank for the past three years and have no acute care experience besides dialysis for 8months, five years ago and a few months of maternity nursing as a new grad. I have worked in a nursing home as a CNA and it was really hard work but I enjoyed helping the elderly. Do you think the Yountville veterans home would be willing to train new grads or re entry nurses? If you got a job there how long did they orient you? How is the working environment. Your response is greatly appreciated. I am searching for a good place to get a good foundation in acute care nursing. I am in Los Angeles but I would be willing to relocate.

is your friend an LPN or a RN? 85k u say? wow!

New grad RN at San Quintin gets 8500+ a month.
state pay for RN is great. As is LPT pay.
State pay for LVN is very low.

I don't want to make up someone's mind for them, i just feel people should hear all sides so they don't waste time.
people say they love working in the prison.
I worked in 3, never found anyone who loved it.
People who say they love it, i ask this question. "if prison pay was less then outside hospital's and the workload was equal, would you still work the prison?"
that to me is an indication of "LOVE", you do it no matter what.
Prison's pay more for a reason, even though the work is alot easier (just different challenges).

Prison is a whole lot safer then the State Mental Hospitals.
State Mental Hospitals really should not be called Hospitals, they are lower security prisons without officers. Many of the guys just had a little bit more money to get better lawyers.
If you are in LA, there is a Veterans HOme in Lancaster, one in San Diego, i think Barstow and I think Oxnard or Ventura. None are nearly as big as YOuntville though.
There is also a state DDS home in Norwalk, but they never hire.

to answer your question, I interviewed at Yountville, but they wanted me for nights. My girl at that time worked days, so i said no, even though i prefer nights, i wanted to spend time with my girl on her schedule.
San Diego calls me a couple times a year, but i have not interviewed with them.

The people i know that worked there compared to NAPA state hospital prefer Yountville, but its hard to get days there they say. Napa i got days in 2 months.
I had a good gig in Napa, 12 hour shifts, days, kick butt boss that gave me time off when ever i wanted, but stupid me resigned.
Im waiting on the VA hospitals in the state. Alot more vacation days a year. Retirement may not be as good, hard to understand VA retirement. State retirement is pretty clear.

Again, not telling you not to work at a prison, just giving people the truth.
try working for them thru a registry, you can quit if you don't like it. Alot of registry and state hires do.

Here is the crazy thing.
yeah the state may lay off alot of prison employee's. but you know what they do, they fill those positions with registry people, that actually cost more. Yeah, its stupid.

I have a friend who moved to Los Angeles as a CNA in 2006 she was makin 22/hr can someone tell me what LPN's are making in that area? I know for a fact that LPN's in NY (Westchester County) are making 25/hr fresh outta Nursing School?

Can ANYONE tell me the diff between gettin an LPN from a BOCES/Technical skool where u can get the LPN in 9 mos...oppose to going to a Comm Coll for 18 mos


Thank you
OH! Do you folks suggest becoming a CNA first? Before pursuing an LPN lic having confused thoughts