[aussieshane]

Originally Posted by LoriRN911

Hi Shane,
Are you planning to move here to the East Coast? Or do travel nursing? Why do you have to take the NCLEX in Boston? Aren't you an RN now??? I'm confused.

hi
thanks for replying, to be honest id love to do travel psychiatric nursing ! however, i have heard that there is very little TRAVEL psych work available. I currently live in Bermuda, which is an hr or so from boston, so doing the nclex would there would be really convenient. I am Australian and in order for foriegn nurses to work in the usa we have to do the nclex. There you go,so if you have any info re wages/hospitals that pay well etc id love to hear from you
cheers
shane

[dmgoodnight]

Hello, I am tina. I am a LPN student in Dothan, Alabama and will complete the program in December 2004. I am going to continue on with my education to get my RN with hopes of starting the RN program in the Fall of 2005. I am not working at this time. I am just doing school full-time. I am interested in correctional nursing. I would love to hear from anyone about their experience as a correctional nurse (especially in the Alabama and Florida - such as Marianna- areas), oportunities in the field, benefits (health, insurance, dental, vision, etc...) and the pay, and retirement benefits. Any information from you would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help and time. Tina

[UnchainedFever]

My daughter-in-law... who just had the baby. (different thread), started out her carreer in Ga with no experience...she graduated this last May. Straight out of school, to be supervised by me. Started out at $19.50 an hour. My agency supplies the state with the nursing staff that it needs to complete the shift. She is an LPN. I'm an RN and make $29.50 an hour... Talk to me...

Originally Posted by brejean

I wish I could tell you that the scale was higher, but as with alot of other nursing specialities...it's not. I work in an Illinois male prison as a LPN. I have been there going on 9 years. The starting wage for a LPN is $9.50 an hour. Alot of Illinois prisons healthcare units are contracted, usually from out of state contractors who have very little knowledge (or care) of what we do on a daily basis. We recently became unionized, but wages won't change until 2001. I just made it over the $11.00 mark. You would think that with the type of clientel that we deal with on a daily basis, we would be worth just a "little" bit more than $9.50...especially when a CNA in our area makes more in starting wage than I do right now...with over 20 years of nursing experience. It's really too bad too, because I love the fact that this field is a combination of many, many specialities of nursing.

[NursesRmofun]

Originally Posted by lorita

I applied for a job at a local prison but the pay was much lower than I expected and i was nervous about that type of work as i tend to trust people I'm caring for, so i declined the job. I'm wondering what pay most of you are getting

Working for the government is usually assoc. with less money and more benies, in my experience. But the pay has gone up, from what I have seen so far.

[ripley]

Hi All,

I am a long-time hospital nurse who has just started (2 months) nursing at a county jail and I am hooked on corrections nursing. My motto, so far is :"A bad day at the jail is better than a good day at the hospital." The stress level is so much less, and the jail I work at is very adamant about there alway being at least one deputy with any nurse coming in direct contact with any inmate. The problem I have encountered is that when I was hired I was not told that a new medical management company would be starting in 3 months. They are keeping me on as PRN/RN, at least for now. My question is (if this is appropriate for posting on this forum) does anybody have any input or suggestions on which private companies are "good", "fair" or "downright BAD". The new co. here is Naphcare. Also I would appreciate some info on courses available to help me improve my "jail nursing" skills. One last questions, can anyone recommend travel companies that staff primarily jails and prisons? I know this is rather long, but this is my first post and I have lots of questions.
Thanks

[NursesRmofun]

Originally Posted by ripley

Hi All,

I am a long-time hospital nurse who has just started (2 months) nursing at a county jail and I am hooked on corrections nursing. My motto, so far is :"A bad day at the jail is better than a good day at the hospital." The stress level is so much less, and the jail I work at is very adamant about there alway being at least one deputy with any nurse coming in direct contact with any inmate. The problem I have encountered is that when I was hired I was not told that a new medical management company would be starting in 3 months. They are keeping me on as PRN/RN, at least for now. My question is (if this is appropriate for posting on this forum) does anybody have any input or suggestions on which private companies are "good", "fair" or "downright BAD". The new co. here is Naphcare. Also I would appreciate some info on courses available to help me improve my "jail nursing" skills. One last questions, can anyone recommend travel companies that staff primarily jails and prisons? I know this is rather long, but this is my first post and I have lots of questions.
Thanks

No idea about the last part and management companies at all, but I agree with the motto, etc. A bad day in jail IS better than a good day in most hospitals!

[tiona]

Originally Posted by ShannonB25

While we are on the subject, does anyone know the rate of pay for California corrections? Also, what type of experience should one have before applying for a job in this area? Thanks!!

------------------
"The highest reward for man's toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it."-Johan Ruskin

I just started a new job in correctional nursing in CA. I'm a relatively new grad LVN. This job is a total trip! I make over $20 per hour---great benefits. I want to get more involved in conversations on this site. I'm on a pretty high learning curve, but I'm getting some pretty positive feed back from management so far. I struggle with the chronic detoxers...the CO's want to release 'em, but they are obviously in bad shape. My orientation hasn't been great, but I'm pretty good at figuring stuff out on my own. When do ya keep 'em and when do ya let 'em go out and find a drink?? Advise?

[NursesRmofun]

Originally Posted by tiona

When do ya keep 'em and when do ya let 'em go out and find a drink?? Advise?

Err...not sure how they'd get a drink (of alcohol) in my prison. It is a Max. So, do you mean in a local jail where you only have them in short-term? Sorry I am not more helpful! I guess I'd hold onto them as long as I could and try to get them some couseling. ???

[UnchainedFever]

We, the staff found 72 gallons of 'Jack' at my Max security prison... You'd be surprised at the resourcefulness. One guy even had a minature prison built of match sticks that was almost an exact replica of this max prison... He had never been to those areas... Imagine all the info it took to take him there....It's now on display.... as a reminder... Be very careful... They can suck you in... that's why they're called, "CON"-VICTS.

[NursesRmofun]

Originally Posted by UnchainedFever

We, the staff found 72 gallons of 'Jack' at my Max security prison... You'd be surprised at the resourcefulness. One guy even had a minature prison built of match sticks that was almost an exact replica of this max prison... He had never been to those areas... Imagine all the info it took to take him there....It's now on display.... as a reminder... Be very careful... They can suck you in... that's why they're called, "CON"-VICTS.

Very interesting and, well,...informative. Thanks. Haven't heard any of those stories about this prison. I have heard that they do sneak drugs in now and again, etc. I guess it isn't a far stretch to think a bottle might be brought in now and again somehow. But things are tight for sure. Con-victs...Yes, true.