[ex1140]

Originally Posted by texascowgirl

what state? panel interview? sheesh! most correctional facilities just want to make sure you have a pulse and are breathing!

That is soooo true and new grads are welcome at most facilities as well...

[ex1140]

With the cost of living in Cali I am not shocked about the high salary for RNs in corrections...The average home in a nice neighborhood costs upwards of 700,000.

[Sheri257]

Originally Posted by ex1140

With the cost of living in Cali I am not shocked about the high salary for RNs in corrections...The average home in a nice neighborhood costs upwards of 700,000.

I'm seeing this comment a lot. No wonder you California nurses make so much money ... you HAVE to pay $700-800K for a SHACK!!!!

I guess this is how people make themselves feel better about not making California nursing salaries ... they go on and on about the cost of living. Like all of us California nurses are going broke, or something.

Quite the contrary.

First of all, the average price for a Calfiornia home statewide ... right now ... is $430,000. That's down from $465,000 a year ago. And prices continue to fall and will probably do so for at least two more years. The average price will probably get down to $300-$350K at some point.

So, obviously, $700,000 is not the average price for a house in California. Some people pay that much, but most people pay a lot less.

Secondly ... many state prisons are not located in the expensive areas of the state. They're actually located in the cheaper areas where housing is much more affordable. That's where you can really make bank.

In my area, for example, two new state prisons are planned where you can pick up a brand new house for $200 to $250K.

At $43 an hour, which goes up to $48 an hour in three years ... that's a pretty good deal. No outrageous cost of living where I live.

I only paid $150K for my house but, if people insist on believing I'm paying a lot more ... I guess there's nothing I can do to change their minds.

In the meantime, I'll just pay my tiny mortgage and keep making bank. I do love those fat pay checks.

[psychonurse]

I have worked for the Oregon Department of Corrections where we are also having a building burst but the powers that be don't want to pay the nurses very much. I have been helping with the bargaining for our new contract and it has been a big fight to try and get more money for the nurses. The only thing that is helping me right now is the fact that I have worked there for 18 years and I still have a great retirement coming up... In fact in three years I am going to retire and only work part time....and I don't even know if it is going to be in nursing but I think that I could be a good consultant to some correctional facilities due to my experience.

Anyway we are having a hard time getting applicants in fact there is no one on the list for a RN job right now. We have resorted to using agency nurses and that makes it really hard to swallow....knowing that they are making more money than I and there is many things that they aren't able to do in the facility.

I am sure that the panel interview was tough, I didn't have any trouble getting my first job in the facility. My boss knew me from the outside and we were expanding at the facility and she kind of pushed me through the process. The nurses that start with us now are iterviewed by the Health Services Manager and Nurse Manager and usually someone outside the Medical unit....I am glad that I didn't have to go through all that.

I agree, you need to get ahold of the powers that be and tell them that you were intimidated by the interview process but you will be ready for it this time and would like another interview. Good luck with your attempts and you will never regret going to work for the state....

Sonya

[ADSEGTeleMed RN]

Originally Posted by ex1140

With the cost of living in Cali I am not shocked about the high salary for RNs in corrections...The average home in a nice neighborhood costs upwards of 700,000.

My God!!! Where in the hell did you get those fgures?!?! You might wanna check your sources on that... or better yet... read more.

[ADSEGTeleMed RN]

Originally Posted by Sheri257

I'm seeing this comment a lot. No wonder you California nurses make so much money ... you HAVE to pay $700-800K for a SHACK!!!!

I guess this is how people make themselves feel better about not making California nursing salaries ... they go on and on about the cost of living. Like all of us California nurses are going broke, or something.

Quite the contrary.

First of all, the average price for a Calfiornia home statewide ... right now ... is $430,000. That's down from $465,000 a year ago. And prices continue to fall and will probably do so for at least two more years. The average price will probably get down to $300-$350K at some point.

So, obviously, $700,000 is not the average price for a house in California. Some people pay that much, but most people pay a lot less.

Secondly ... many state prisons are not located in the expensive areas of the state. They're actually located in the cheaper areas where housing is much more affordable. That's where you can really make bank.

In my area, for example, two new state prisons are planned where you can pick up a brand new house for $200 to $250K.

At $43 an hour, which goes up to $48 an hour in three years ... that's a pretty good deal. No outrageous cost of living where I live.

I only paid $150K for my house but, if people insist on believing I'm paying a lot more ... I guess there's nothing I can do to change their minds.

In the meantime, I'll just pay my tiny mortgage and keep making bank. I do love those fat pay checks.

Yup!!! You are right on that! You got a bargain on that house. Good for you! Guess I paid more than what you got. Got a 4 bed/2bath for 355k with a community pool, park/playground for kids and just across the school where my daughter is enrolled. So if youre paying 700k for your house... it better be on top of a hill overlooking the ocean with a big pool at the back. Coz if thats not what your house is... you are being screwed