[cardiacnrs]

I worked for CMS for three years in Wy and pay was great, staffing was not much of an issue and benefits were comparable.
However, when I transferred down to Texas, I took a 4 dollar and hour pay cut, staffing was, well, ok I guess not great by any means.
I would have to say that it is site specific. We did not have the problems in Wy that we had in Tx. In Tx the benefits sucked and the pay did as well. The DON was never there, nor was the administrator and CMS allowed that as they were salaried employees.
In Wyoming we were provided a townhouse for those of us who traveled to get to work and we provided the necessities and paid 10.00 a month to stay there. (Toilet paper and cleaning supplies)
I traveled 125 miles one way and so did quite a few others who worked at the pen. If the weather was bad it kept us from having to spend money on a hotel if we could not make it home. Worked out for them as they had staff who would come and work for a 3-4 day stretch and then take the same off. we rotated schedules and rarely had to cover someone elses shift.

[erroridiot]

Originally posted by northernstate
I have worked for CMS for almost 3 years now. Can't say that I'm happy with them at all. They are in it for the money only, and cost cut far to much. They care nothing about the staff and our requests for more staff. Having 2 nurses for 430 inmates is insane.! Our inmate population is 80 over cap and 130 over what we are matrixed for with CMS. At last check, 70% were on meds which makes for a horrendous medline. Our infirmary is full, plus a cot added for another. It's never ending. CMS does not listen to us when we ask for more help, they don't care..

So , I guess you can say we do not like them because our requests fall upon deaf ears.

Your staffing seems very generous. Are there any openings at your site?

How about 1. 2 or 3 (max) nurses for 1500 inmates at a site??

I have worked at non-CMS prisons with 1 nurse for 1400 (covering 2 prisons as the sole nurse) and passing meds for 800 to 1000. This includes insulin for 90 inmates, heavy psychotropics, high risk obstetrics, overdoses. suicide attempts, asthmatics, cardiac cases, peritoneal dialysis and brittle diabetics. I once sent out 5 ambulances within an hour. Whoops, I forgot the fights, assaults, and work accidents such as hands stuck in the industrial size mixer and cleaning solution in the eyes.

[Trixxy]

I decided I should just keep my opinion about CMS to myself, so I deleted my original post.

[cindyrn1]

Could you tell me what the words mean for CMS and PH? I am new to corrections,

[GARYLPN]

CMS = CORRECTIONAL MEDICAL SERVICES (I think)
PHS = PRISON HEALTH SERVICES

I work prn for PHS plus am an agency nurse.

[jailDON]

When PHS moved into my facility, they only asked one nurse to resign....the DON at that time. Everyone was offered the same pay they were making which was a very fair rate for the LVNs and low for the RNs. They have a tendancy to mess up pay checks too. Their main objective is profit. Here's the scary tactic they have.......underbid by a lot in order to win over the contract thus skimping on personnel, get upset because the staff can't function within the budget then ask for a huge increase in the next contract negotiation. I am so tired of managing with only a skeleton crew waiting for the new contract.

[erroridiot]

Originally Posted by jailDON

Here's the scary tactic they have.......underbid by a lot in order to win over the contract thus skimping on personnel, get upset because the staff can't function within the budget then ask for a huge increase in the next contract negotiation. I am so tired of managing with only a skeleton crew waiting for the new contract.

It is admirable to hope for good things to happen with your new contract. When the new contract comes up for bidding - there will be other companies competing and the jail or prison will play hardball for the cheapest contract that they can get away with.

Then the cycle of hoping for things to be better with the next contract begins again........