[texascowgirl]

I have worked State facilities and privatized prisons/jails. I am curious about which privatized prison corporations yall have worked at, and your opinion. I worked for WCC (Wackenhut Corrections Corporation) and PHS ( Prison Health Services). At one time I was going to work for CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) but decided not to take the job. I have also heard of MTC. Just curious about yalls experiences with privatized prisons...............

[SlavicNurse]

I worked for CCA for 6 years and at the time they were a good company to work for. I have heard that is no longer the case but cannot say that as first hand knowledge.

[Orca]

I have not worked directly for one of these outfits, but I know plenty of people who have. Prison Health Services ran the medical operation at Clark County Detention Center (downtown Las Vegas) for some time, and they were replaced by NaphCare. I have heard nothing good about this company. I work for Nevada DOC, and we recently got applications from eight NaphCare RNs trying to get out of CCDC. One we recently hired told me of bad management, impossible workloads and insufferable supervisors and managers. This was just one man's opinion, of course, but this guy doesn't seem the type to exaggerate or embellish.

Corrections Corporation of America ran our women's prison until about a year and a half ago. They were chronically understaffed, in part because they paid far less than the DOC. The DOC took this facility over in October 2004.

[baydogrn]

Originally Posted by texascowgirl

I have worked State facilities and privatized prisons/jails. I am curious about which privatized prison corporations yall have worked at, and your opinion. I worked for WCC (Wackenhut Corrections Corporation) and PHS ( Prison Health Services). At one time I was going to work for CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) but decided not to take the job. I have also heard of MTC. Just curious about yalls experiences with privatized prisons...............

Hi, Texas Cowgirl,

I worked for First Correctional Medical out of Arizona who had the contract forthe 9 Delaware Prisons and they paid $31/hr nights at the worst prison, the one where the inmate grabbed a counseler, raped and sodomized her for 7 hrs until the SWAT team capped him. This was RN pay, and these folks learned the hard way that they just couldn't pay the same as hospitals because the conditions were so dangerous. Corectional Medical took it over after I left, and they seem to pay about the same, but still probably better than the small hospitals in the state. They have been forced to staff with LPNs, many from Africa, and staff with per diem LPNs, who do not understand that the RN in charge may have to change assignments, have someone run to receiving, etc. and the amount of gross insubordination is shocking, and tolerated by management more than it should. There are some wonderful people within, but it's a shame the management doesn't value its nurses--they don't even pay more for a BSN than an ADN, or for years of experience! A real shame, because I liked that type of work. BaydogRN

[copperhorset]

Originally Posted by texascowgirl

I have worked State facilities and privatized prisons/jails. I am curious about which privatized prison corporations yall have worked at, and your opinion. I worked for WCC (Wackenhut Corrections Corporation) and PHS ( Prison Health Services). At one time I was going to work for CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) but decided not to take the job. I have also heard of MTC. Just curious about yalls experiences with privatized prisons...............

Hi, I worked in Corrections for 7 1/2 years. I absolutely loved it. I started as being a Sick Call and Infirmary Nurse, later promoted to D.O.N.. I found the career very satisfying. I have worked with Wexord and Correctional Medical Services. I found that CMS, by far is better. I also took my certification exam and passed and am an RN, BSN, CCHP and proud of it.

[traveleralways]

Originally Posted by copperhorset

Hi, I worked in Corrections for 7 1/2 years. I absolutely loved it. I started as being a Sick Call and Infirmary Nurse, later promoted to D.O.N.. I found the career very satisfying. I have worked with Wexord and Correctional Medical Services. I found that CMS, by far is better. I also took my certification exam and passed and am an RN, BSN, CCHP and proud of it.

Can you share where you got your CCHP? Thanks.

[RNCCHP]

Can you share where you got your CCHP? Thanks.

Hi Traveleralways,

I am a CCHP or Certified Correctional Health Professional. You can contact the NCCHC or National Commission on Correctional Healthcare for the certification dates, locations, and requirements.
Hope this helps, RNCCHP

[hcmanp]

Originally Posted by RNCCHP

Can you share where you got your CCHP? Thanks.

Hi Traveleralways,

I am a CCHP or Certified Correctional Health Professional. You can contact the NCCHC or National Commission on Correctional Healthcare for the certification dates, locations, and requirements.
Hope this helps, RNCCHP

How difficult was the test, and what did you use (if anything) to study for it?
thanks,
HM

[RNCCHP]

Originally Posted by hcmanp

How difficult was the test, and what did you use (if anything) to study for it?
thanks,
HM

I bought the books from the NCCHC. I can honestly say they helped a lot. The test wasn't easy but doable if you studied. The only bad part is that to keep the certification you must renew every year which involves continuing ed. of 18 credits with 6 specific to correctional nursing and pay the fee. It is sometimes difficult to find correctional nurse specific CE's.

[hcmanp]

Originally Posted by RNCCHP

I bought the books from the NCCHC. I can honestly say they helped a lot. The test wasn't easy but doable if you studied. The only bad part is that to keep the certification you must renew every year which involves continuing ed. of 18 credits with 6 specific to correctional nursing and pay the fee. It is sometimes difficult to find correctional nurse specific CE's.

Thanks, I will look into this.