Correctional Nursing Salary

texascowgirl · Mar 5, 2006

i have made up to $38/hour as an independent contractor for GA DOC, but there aint enough money in the world that would make me do it again. (see my thread on geographical differences)

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Mar 6, 2006

RNs in Nevada DOC are making around $32 per hour base, no Social Security deductions and no state income tax. There is a 5% night differential.

RocknRollYogaRn · Mar 16, 2006

I work in the Nevada correctional system and RN's start at approximately 30.00/hour. The benefits aren't that great, but the pay is better then what the nurses make in the hospitals and the job is physically easier. Kellie

texascowgirl · Mar 16, 2006

i have made MORE in correctional health than in hospital nursing. it's easier work too. the unfortunate part of correctional health is the fact (sorry yall but it IS the truth), lots of your fellow nurses will be either 1) incompetent 2) lazy 3) lacking clinical skills 4) cant get hired elsewhere or 5) like the attention and hook up with inmates (i have seen it happen more than i care to mention)...........i know this will bring lots of angry responses, but sorry, this is MY experience cross the board-i have worked corrections in multiple facilities in two states and find the same caliber of nurses in every facility i have worked in. and same goes for docs-old retired ones, ones that cant hack it in a real hospital, or simply incompetent. not to say there are SOME good medical professionals in correctional health, but you will find very few of them. but it sure is a good ego boost to go into the field if you have good clinical skills, cuz you will SHINE amongst your comrades...........

luvmy2angels · Mar 16, 2006

Our county prison pays $14/to start for LPN. The state run prisons start out at $27.40 for LPNs, don't know what the rate is for RNs. I live in PA.

military spouse · Mar 16, 2006

texascowgirl said:
i have made MORE in correctional health than in hospital nursing. it's easier work too. the unfortunate part of correctional health is the fact (sorry yall but it IS the truth), lots of your fellow nurses will be either 1) incompetent 2) lazy 3) lacking clinical skills 4) cant get hired elsewhere or 5) like the attention and hook up with inmates (i have seen it happen more than i care to mention)...........i know this will bring lots of angry responses, but sorry, this is MY experience cross the board-i have worked corrections in multiple facilities in two states and find the same caliber of nurses in every facility i have worked in. and same goes for docs-old retired ones, ones that cant hack it in a real hospital, or simply incompetent. not to say there are SOME good medical professionals in correctional health, but you will find very few of them. but it sure is a good ego boost to go into the field if you have good clinical skills, cuz you will SHINE amongst your comrades...........

Your post is sooo true. I just started in corrections a few months ago and can't believe the laziness of SOME nurses and the number of nurses that are only there to get attention from both the inmates and C.O.'s. It amazes me!

HEDNURSE · Apr 5, 2006

You Are Not Kidding! The Laziness The Extremely Poor Skills! Running Circles Around Them In First Gear Is Still Lapping! Correctional Nursing Is Not For Everyone. I Mean To Enter Bizarro Land And Leave At The End Of The Shift, Usually The Next Shift, And Say Ya Worked And Earned Is Fine But To See The Counterpart Slugs Whine And Cry All The Time! Geez But Hey What Ya Gonna Do? As A Headnurse In A New England State I Make With Shift Diff Just Under Forty An Hour And It Is A State Gig! So The Bennies Are Outragous! And The Word Shine Is So Undersateted!!!!!!!! Nova? Glow Of Interstaller Particle Stuff?

texascowgirl · Apr 6, 2006

you got that right.....so many are male-dependent...they get off on attention from males, whether from CO's or inmates, and boy have i seen way too many nurses lose their jobs cuz of affairs with inmates of all thangs. it is CRAZY. them inmate lovers.......sheesh.......

military spouse said:
Your post is sooo true. I just started in corrections a few months ago and can't believe the laziness of SOME nurses and the number of nurses that are only there to get attention from both the inmates and C.O.'s. It amazes me!

GR8LVN · Apr 6, 2006

The information I have is as follows (I'm in the middle of the selection process) : California Correctional Nursing- The LVN is classified as a Medical Technical Assistant (MTA) and there are several steps involved. Base pay as of 7-1-05 is $3876.00-$5661.00 MTA's are medical personnel who have peace officer status within the Dept of Corrections' institutions. The majority of postions are located in State Prisions supervising and providing medical care to adult felons.

tirzo13 · Sep 30, 2006

I work in a California state prison.

we will be making 100K/year next year.

great money, great benifits.

in prison an inmate will notice your hair is different, when your man doesn't.

an inmate will notice your new watch, ear rings, you lost weight.

they will notice your new car in the parking lot.

an inmate will size you up everyday and notice anything that changes.

he will ask you how your day is, he will try to get involved in your life anyway he can.

you start to think he is really not that bad, maybe you give him a extra pill, or bring him a cig.

he is using you.

don't think for a minute he is doing anything but that.

he may treat you well, but guess how he treated women on the outside.

never turn you back on him, never get attached.

they are professional criminals, and bad ones at that.

other than the fact that they will hurt you if it gets them something, they will turn you in if you get them contraband and they get busted.

they will name you when corrections wants to find out who is not crushing the seroquel, and they offer the inmate something.

but the pay is great.

GR8LVN · Oct 1, 2006

NurseNikki5,

In California, at the CDC (California Department of Corrections-State Prision) they are doing away with the MTA (LVN with custody) and implementing the LVN (Safety). salary range is $3800.00-4619.00 My mother worked in the infirmary, she is a RN, and said it was a "cushy" job and made $45.00 hour. The State benefits are wonderful also. But CA is an expensive place to live. So weigh the factors. GR8TLVN

HOOSIERNW · Oct 3, 2006

tirzo13 said:
I work in a California state prison.
we will be making 100K/year next year.
great money, great benifits.
in prison an inmate will notice your hair is different, when your man doesn't.
an inmate will notice your new watch, ear rings, you lost weight.
they will notice your new car in the parking lot.
an inmate will size you up everyday and notice anything that changes.
he will ask you how your day is, he will try to get involved in your life anyway he can.
you start to think he is really not that bad, maybe you give him a extra pill, or bring him a cig.
he is using you.
don't think for a minute he is doing anything but that.
he may treat you well, but guess how he treated women on the outside.
never turn you back on him, never get attached.
they are professional criminals, and bad ones at that.
other than the fact that they will hurt you if it gets them something, they will turn you in if you get them contraband and they get busted.
they will name you when corrections wants to find out who is not crushing the seroquel, and they offer the inmate something.
but the pay is great.

For all nurses thinking of going into correctional nursing, please read this and believe it. It's the truth.