Best/Worst States for LPN opportunities

BigB · Jun 18, 2007

As an MTA you do wear "a badge" but we aren't considered officers per say. We are sworn peace officers, but our priority is the medical / mental health aspect. There is at least one guard on each unit that is ultimatly responsible for security. He is armed with pepper spray in the event that it is needed. The majority of the time the inmates behave, but this is psych and we have had a couple act up. We simply take them to the ground...and life goes on. Working here is very safe. I got attacked more in a nursing home from the residents who thought I missed their pain meds.

Rotating the med pass is so nice. It is funny how the MTA's here are so spoiled. They complain when they are up for meds and have to medicate ***gasp*** 30 inmates!!! I would still be in LTC if I only had 30 residents as opposed to the 47 - 48 I had everynight.

p.s. We have MTA's here up to age 63... many grandparents.

p.s.s. I can relate to putting up a front. I kept telling myself this isn't too bad as I was able to cut my 3 hour med pass down to 2 hrs and 53 minutes. I was in denial. I was dealing with angry family members who were looking to vent after AM shift left a message on their answering machine. It was usually a fall or skin tear, but of course when they get home from work and recieve the message it's on MY shift, PM's!!!! So now I have to pacify these people while my 3 hour med pass turns into 3.5 hours. I would not stop charting until night shift arrived and my body was so reved up I couldn't get to sleep until 2 am...after getting home at 11pm or so. By the time I woke up in the morning..it was time to do it all again. That was no way to live and I had to get out of LTC.

pat8585 · Jun 18, 2007

BigB....are you a Federal or a State employee?

BTW...thank you for all your helpful info!

classicmusic09 · Jun 18, 2007

As an MTA you do wear "a badge" but we aren't considered officers per say. We are sworn peace officers, but our priority is the medical / mental health aspect. There is at least one guard on each unit that is ultimatly responsible for security. He is armed with pepper spray in the event that it is needed. The majority of the time the inmates behave, but this is psych and we have had a couple act up. We simply take them to the ground...and life goes on. Working here is very safe. I got attacked more in a nursing home from the residents who thought I missed their pain meds.
Rotating the med pass is so nice. It is funny how the MTA's here are so spoiled. They complain when they are up for meds and have to medicate ***gasp*** 30 inmates!!! I would still be in LTC if I only had 30 residents as opposed to the 47 - 48 I had everynight.
p.s. We have MTA's here up to age 63... many grandparents.
p.s.s. I can relate to putting up a front. I kept telling myself this isn't too bad as I was able to cut my 3 hour med pass down to 2 hrs and 53 minutes. I was in denial. I was dealing with angry family members who were looking to vent after AM shift left a message on their answering machine. It was usually a fall or skin tear, but of course when they get home from work and recieve the message it's on MY shift, PM's!!!! So now I have to pacify these people while my 3 hour med pass turns into 3.5 hours. I would not stop charting until night shift arrived and my body was so reved up I couldn't get to sleep until 2 am...after getting home at 11pm or so. By the time I woke up in the morning..it was time to do it all again. That was no way to live and I had to get out of LTC.

Dear Big B, Talk about painting a clear picture, I can't help but laugh! You are so right!! I declare, it felt like leaving a war zone, a many a night. The MTA/LVN position, is definitely a more pleasant alternative! Thank You!

BigB · Jun 19, 2007

BigB....are you a Federal or a State employee?
BTW...thank you for all your helpful info!

I am a state employee.

NSAID · Jun 19, 2007

Hi BigB,

Good day. I'm new here in this forum and read about your postings re MTA/LPN job. If you dont mind, what are the qualifications to apply for this position? Many thanks and looking forward for your reply.

Warmest regards,

NSAID

BigB · Jun 19, 2007

Hi BigB,
Good day. I'm new here in this forum and read about your postings re MTA/LPN job. If you dont mind, what are the qualifications to apply for this position? Many thanks and looking forward for your reply.
Warmest regards,
NSAID

Hi there. This link / handout explains the position, qualifications, etc etc.

http://www.dmh.cahwnet.gov/JOB/docs/recruit/MTA%20Handout%20With%20Photos.pdf

Main qaulifications are LVN, RN, or PSYCH TECH license and no felony convictions.

The information on the link is about 3 years old so the pay is not correct. New salary tops out at about $6,200 a month.

newtress, LPN · Jun 19, 2007

Hi again BigB, much appreciate your all your information, opinions and advise. Was curious to know what your weekend and holiday gig is for your position. Are you working a lot of them and is that the norm for LVN/MTA in a state position? Also, is the CDC more apt to hire in those who have had prior corrections work experience (maybe even county jail) or would they consider those who have not ever worked before in the system? Oh and by the way, if you're in Sac may I ask what facility you are at. Appreciate ya!

BigB · Jun 19, 2007

Hi again BigB, much appreciate your all your information, opinions and advise. Was curious to know what your weekend and holiday gig is for your position. Are you working a lot of them and is that the norm for LVN/MTA in a state position? Also, is the CDC more apt to hire in those who have had prior corrections work experience (maybe even county jail) or would they consider those who have not ever worked before in the system? Oh and by the way, if you're in Sac may I ask what facility you are at. Appreciate ya!

I do work a lot of weekends and holidays becuase I am new to this profession. I only have a little over a year and 3 months. I don't mind working some of the holidays becuase I get paid more to work them, plus for every holiday worked I gain a credit "holiday" which I can take later. Weekends are a calmer, more relaxed pace which I like. So I don't worry about working too many of those either. The longer you are in, the more you can bid for the better jobs (weekends off etc). Everything is based on seniority.

You don't need experience to work as a state LVN for CDC. Same goes for working as an MTA/LVN in the Dept. of Mental Health. CDC use to be staffed with MTA's but when the FEDS took over prison medical, the position was discontinued due to the receiver thinking the cop / nurse role of MTA was a "conflict of interest.". I work at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, CA. Yes, I commute but I generally work 3 days and am off for 4...so life is good.

MTA/LVN can only work in Dept. of Mental Health units...in the state prisons. There is 2 now, and one planned to open in the Sacramento area in a couple years. State LVN can work at any of the 33 prisons in California, but as I have stated before it is not worth it for the peanuts you will be getting paid.

newtress, LPN · Jun 20, 2007

Thank you for the reply and sharing. Sounds like you are one happy LVN/MTA. I'm glad to know there are some options out west to consider!

HeartJulz · Jun 20, 2007

Im also here in NorCal... worst place for a LPN. I mostly see only for the nursing homes or home health care. If you want other areas you pretty much need to go elsewhere. Although, Ive been doing a lot of research and originally Im from colorado and it seems they treat their lvn's (lpn's in that state) the same they would w an RN. So you have a broader range of areas you can work in , even in the hospitals. Basically here in CA they no longer want LVNs in a hospital because anytime there is a need to do work outside our scope of practice we have to rely on a RN, so they just pushed us aside like leftovers.... I plan to perhaps move back to CO. after I am finished ...

And BIGB you are right ... pay here is exceptional... just as a CMA I was getting paid at a LVN wage... but sometimes way overworked, underappreciated... and then when it came to pay for groceries, gas or my mortgage... in the end the pay seems average considering the high price you pay to live here...

BigB · Jun 20, 2007

Im also here in NorCal... worst place for a LPN. I mostly see only for the nursing homes or home health care. If you want other areas you pretty much need to go elsewhere. Although, Ive been doing a lot of research and originally Im from colorado and it seems they treat their lvn's (lpn's in that state) the same they would w an RN. So you have a broader range of areas you can work in , even in the hospitals. Basically here in CA they no longer want LVNs in a hospital because anytime there is a need to do work outside our scope of practice we have to rely on a RN, so they just pushed us aside like leftovers.... I plan to perhaps move back to CO. after I am finished ...
And BIGB you are right ... pay here is exceptional... just as a CMA I was getting paid at a LVN wage... but sometimes way overworked, underappreciated... and then when it came to pay for groceries, gas or my mortgage... in the end the pay seems average considering the high price you pay to live here...

I was actually shocked when I found out how much CMA's made in norcal. It was very close to the LVN wage. We had 2 CMA who were in my class who didn't like that fact. Yes, norcal is the worst place to be an LVN. Our hands are so tied it is frustrating. We are reduced to "pill pushers"...a job so easy "even a caveman can do it!!" LOL.

Norcal is expensive but I wouldn't live anywhere else. I have the mountains 2 hours to the east and the ocean 2 hours to the west. The Sac valley is very green and I can't live in brown climates...they depress me.

sassiebaz · Jun 21, 2007

What is a CMA? Certified Medical Assistant???