CDCR/ CA State prison schedule

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Hello, I am interested in working for the CDCR/CA State Prison system in Northern CA. I was searching their website and could not find any info on schedules. Is it 4 10-HR shifts? What are the typical shift hours 7am-5pm, etc? Nights, weekend requirements? Is OT an expectation?

Any info would be helpful!

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PM'd you.

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Specializes in Developmentally delayed.

8hr shifts 6-2, 2-10, 10-12. OT is expected where I am. Your schedule is set, your RDOs (days off) are determined by your set schedule. Some people luck out and get good RDOs others get Tuesdays and Wednesday's off.

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8 hour shifts for us in the Central Valley

6-2

2-10

10-6

RDO's are set but if you find a good swap partner you can extend them. You work 16, 16 & 8 (or in reverse order) and are off for 4 days, but that's after your probationary period, I believe. OT is expected and often mandated.

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Specializes in Developmentally delayed.
8 hour shifts for us in the Central Valley

6-2

2-10

10-6

RDO's are set but if you find a good swap partner you can extend them. You work 16, 16 & 8 (or in reverse order) and are off for 4 days, but that's after your probationary period, I believe. OT is expected and often mandated.

RNs can swap off the bat, LVNs have to wait till the end of probation.

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I just interviewed at Donovan. Does anyone know if they start you at the lowest range of the pay scale even if you have nursing experience? Thanks in advance!

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I believe the answer is yes. Only state time matters to cdcr

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Still waiting to hear back from Donovan. I can't imagine doing 16 hour shifts but it sounds worth it to have 4 days off! Can you swap just one shift and and do 16,8,8,8?

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Still waiting to hear back from Donovan. I can't imagine doing 16 hour shifts but it sounds worth it to have 4 days off! Can you swap just one shift and and do 16,8,8,8?

You can, but you run the risk of getting mandated on any of your 8 hour shifts, ie you can do 16 hours swap one day and be mandated to do another 16 hour shift the next. There are creative ways to swap that almost completely eliminate the possibility of getting mandated and that give you at least 4 days off a week. I usually only work Fri/Sat/Sun or just Sat/Sun and get the rest of the week off on swaps. It depends if you are on a rotating cycle (different scheduled days off a week) or a fixed schedule (set days off). The major flexibility from swapping is one of the main reasons I've stuck with corrections. You can choose whether you want to do a lot of overtime or if you want a lot of time off, it's pretty awesome.

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Mandatory overtime can be really bad at some prisons....with the 2-10pm shift (3rd watch) being pretty brutal. When I started I was getting mandatory overtime every week.

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Still waiting to hear back from Donovan. I can't imagine doing 16 hour shifts but it sounds worth it to have 4 days off! Can you swap just one shift and and do 16,8,8,8?

I use to work 16 , 8 , 16 hours then off for 4 days. It was nice and I did this for 7 years.

Yes you can do 1 swap a week and get 3 days off if you work the 6 - 2pm , 2 - 10pm or 10pm - 6am shifts. Most shifts in cdcr are outpatient clinics....

7:30- 3:30pm. You can't swap these shifts .

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Thanks so much for the reply! Anyone else work for the clinics and able to swap/not swap. I hope Donovan allows it. Well, first off I hope I get the job lol.

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