CA nurse that made 260K which prison did she work at.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · May 10, 2012

If your motivation is to go where you get the most cash and nothing else, you will be eaten alive in corrections.

docteri · May 17, 2012

I believe that lady was a supervisor over several prisons and had to travel a great deal and deal with many, many shortages at several prisons. She may have gotten 260,000 in one year, but I bet she never saw her family or took a vacation. The average supervior makes over 100.000/year according to the cdc website. My husband is a C/O in CA. Unless you have been in a level 4 prison, I would not judge. I toured it once and may never go back!!

leinasmom · May 17, 2012

Northern CA pays more than Southern CA in Corrections. Check out the website and it will list all openings and pay.

1998nurse · May 18, 2012

I am a BSN RN, just accepted a Nursing position at local county corrections facility. Any advice from previous or

current corrections RN's?? Please, do NOT reply if you have never had 'Corrections' RN experience. Thank you!!

Bortaz, MSN, RN · May 18, 2012

Please, do NOT reply if you have never had 'Corrections' RN experience. Thank you!!

LOL, yeah.

DesertRN2, MSN, APRN · May 19, 2012

Actually the pay is the same except for for institutions that are in high cost of living areas.

ChuckeRN, BSN, RN · May 21, 2012

Remember YOUR safety is always #1. If you do not feel safe, don't be there, don't go there, and don't do it. PERIOD.

My #1 rant regarding correctional nursing is that the COs seem so lax sometimes. For example, after hours, the protocol is that ALL inmates be in full restraints (belly chain, shackles, etc) when I see them in the ER. The CO in the bubble have let inmates just waltz in with COs not even having them in handcuffs.

As of yesterday, that BS has stopped for me. I told the shift commander of our complex and he said he supports me 100% since that is the protocol. I have told the bubble CO if an inmate is NOT in full restraints, don't even bother me with it, send em right back home - UNLESS it is an emergency.

I am a BSN RN, just accepted a Nursing position at local county corrections facility. Any advice from previous or
current corrections RN's?? Please, do NOT reply if you have never had 'Corrections' RN experience. Thank you!!

jgg765 · Jul 22, 2012

I want to start of thanking off the people who answered my questions.

For the peopl like Orca who are being mean why would I get eaten alive I have worked at the supermax eyeman SMU1 it is where all the STG's go Aryan brotherhood mexican mafia etc Level 5 offenders. It might be a better idea to get to know people before making assumptions and saying you will get eaten alive.

I have worked at all levels in all the prisons in AZ as well.

Also not sure why a lot of people on this board get mad when you try and make money.

I went into nursing to help people but to also be able to save for retirment and etc.

Should I seek a job making eight dollars and hour to make people happy on this board?

I am a single guy with no kids or wife so I would not mind working 70 hours a week.

For the folks that are interested in correction it is hard work and you always have to be a where of your surroundings you cannot leave sharps out etc. You have to treat the inmates with respect but also not like they are at the Hilton hotel. I feel that corrections is a lot better place to work than a hospital for anyone who wants to check it out I would reccomended it best of luck stay positive and do not let anyone bring you down.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2012

It isn't a matter of being "mean". The tone of your original post made it plain that the salary was your primary focus - which is never a good way to go into any job.

nursie_nursie_415 · Jul 30, 2012

I have never worked in corrections but I did work in inpatient psych (we cared for many inmates) & the style of nursing & environment is VERY similar - high level of verbal & nonverbal respect, no shoelaces, paper clips, belts, etc. In terms of safety, I feel it is safer than being in a hospital. I have been assaulted waaay more by patients in a hospital, but got socked in my arm ONCE during my stint as an inpatient psych nurse. Allow me to say that it was MY FAULT because I let my guard down - the patient was in a wheelchair & I could feel that she was about to hit me on her way into the seclusion room, but I didn't trust my gut & when she rolled by me I ignored all instincts to move out of the way & then she punched me HARD in my arm.

When I became an RN, I seriously considered working in corrections because I found much satisfaction in such a structured & safe environment, but the application process was too extensive & time consuming, so if you really want to work out here I suggest you get the process started pronto.

The only bad thing I have to say about corrections up here in NorCal is that I've heard of facilities having mandates. Good luck in your search :)

Pranqster · Aug 3, 2012

I believe that lady was a supervisor over several prisons and had to travel a great deal and deal with many, many shortages at several prisons. She may have gotten 260,000 in one year, but I bet she never saw her family or took a vacation. The average supervior makes over 100.000/year according to the cdc website. My husband is a C/O in CA. Unless you have been in a level 4 prison, I would not judge. I toured it once and may never go back!!

You are soo WRONG! where did you get all this? Jean is a great nurse who worked a lot of overtime that was available at CMC when the state hiring freeze was in effect. We could all make as much as her if we worked overtime everyday too. By the way, CDCR salaries are determined by barganing units (union contracts) not location in the state.