do the correctionals hire new grads?

aec rn bsn...

My time spent at MSH was horrible. I worked with the adolescent girls and at the time I was really close to their age and they had real issues seeing me as an athorative figure. Like you, we had made several trips to San Luis Obispo (for mini vacations and weekend getaways) and thought it was beatiful. When we discovered there was a state hospital we applied and were hired within three months, that was 7 years ago. The reality didn't hit until monthes later when we realized that yes it's a beatiful area but its definitely not the "city" or anything close. We still enjoy going out and being social and enjoying a variety of resturants... you won't find that here. Also, SLO is a college town so you get entertainment that caters to that crowd. However, people often say that its a great place to live if your raising a family because it is safe and has a small town feel. There is lots of outdoors stuff to do like hiking and biking and you can get to the beach within 20 min from any of the surrounding areas.

As far as info about ASH... its all male and is maxium security for MDOs. They use to house SVPs but their all at Colinga now. There is one sallyport in and out for all employees, no cell phones or other contraband allowed inside. The staff are friendly and overall i guess i would have to say its not a bad place to work.

I hope this helps and if you have any more questions let me know.

tirzo13 ... Thanks!! That was very helpfull.

There is alot to like about SLO.
All the things that make it great as a small town, well being a small town there are things to not like.
Really did not care for ASH.

In my ideal world San Diego would be half the size it is, and they had a place like NSH or Yountvilles Veteran Home.

ANyway, Napa is a good place to work and a nice community.
Its good size, so there are things to do, and its not 4 hours away from a city like SLO is.

As long as you stay away from Vallejo you are fine.
The cost of living is actually a bit less then SLO.

you can find a good house in American Canyon for less then 200K, stay away from Vallejo, but in Vallejo you can find houses for 5ok, that should tell you about Vallejo, yeah there are 800k houses in Vallejo, but its still Vallejo.

Go for American Canyon>Napa> YOuntville.
If you want to drive about 35 minutes head out to Sonoma.

Yes, there are good things about SLO... I guess it just depends on what kind of lifestyle your looking for. I need to be in the city so SLO isn't for me.

What is wrong with living in Vallejo? It semed like a good city that is right between NSH and SF?? Do you recommend any areas closer to SF? I'm not looking to buy just rent for now. I would prefer a newer upscaled area that is safe.

Thanks!!

Congratulations New Graduate Nurse,
I am not a correctional nurse but like several of the others I think that a good year of hospital experience would be necessary for correctional nursing. I have read many of the postings and it seems like correctional nursing is a very autonomous nursing job much like school nursing. It also sounds like it can be intimidating at times. That is why I believe a good year of assessments and working on building confidence in a hospital environment would be essential. Good Luck to you.

I think you pretty well hit the nail on the head!....

I tried to hire a 6 mo nurse...will NEVER do it again...3 years minimum unless ER, then MAYBE 2 years!

I just got hired per diem at a jail in New Jersey and I graduated in May

I very much hope it works for you.
Maybe your jail is set up differently, but in my jail the nurses have way too much autonomy. I know I personally could not have handled running a code by myself for a young person that was lifeless from hanging or any other numbers of ways of dying after 6 months of nursing. In some situations, that would be called for in my jail.

In parts of Colorado that's the only place besides a LTC facility to get a job. I live in rural Colorado, where there is no nursing shortage. I am a new RN and was a LPN for <2yrs. I have for the most part have had a great experience with the C.O.'s. I don't think is a good place for "young nurses", but if your no spring chicken, like myself, it works. The nurses are helpful, patient, eager to work with you, mentor, and flourish compliments. The Inmates well they just that. There is a book they recommend all DOC staff to read "the Game's Criminal play" I do not know the author offhand but if your thinking of working corrections you might want to read it along with "Verbal Judo". I have never felt in danger but I know it is a possibility. If you are skeptical, tough, and have a good sense of humor it might be the right fit.