work in prison or facility? help!!! need to decide asap!!!

Specialties Correctional

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hi all. im new to this site. anyway, i just want some advice from anyone here. I have been working as a treatment nurse /charge nurse in facilities for 5 yrs already. I just got recently hired and started March after being unemployed for some time. I was hired as charge nurse and sometimes being called in as treatment nurse when needed. i was just asked today that they want to get me as permanent treatment nurse. I am getting paid $25/hr here but not allowed OT. My problem is while unemployed I applied as LVN for prison and also got hired. they want me to start May 2nd. but they're hiring me for limited term and at the lowest pay which is around $3,800 i think. I asked why I'm being offered this since I have more than a year experience but they said I dont have experience in hosp or prison that's why I start at the lowest pay.

I have been listing down the pros and cons but til now I am confused. Can anybody enlighten me? I badly need advice from anyone especially who has experiences working in both prison and facility.

Thank you so much. Hope to hear from anyone soon before it's too late!!!:confused:

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Specializes in Corrections, Education, Med/Surg, AGNP-HIV.

What type of facilities? Corrections is not for everyone. Limited term means you are filling in for someone who is out long term generally sick. However most people on limited term get picked up in perm full time positions. It only takes about 3 years to reach the top of the pay scale plus generally plenty of opportunity for OT.

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What type of facilities? Corrections is not for everyone. Limited term means you are filling in for someone who is out long term generally sick. However most people on limited term get picked up in perm full time positions. It only takes about 3 years to reach the top of the pay scale plus generally plenty of opportunity for OT.

Thanks for your reply. I work in nurisng/rehab now. I was just offered the highest start pay for the prison job ($4200). I am so confused really. I dont have any idea about the place and I will have to relocate for the job.

Do you work in prison? How is it? so u mean there's plenty of opportunity for OT? May i ask also, hows the pay? Is it every 2 weeks or 15/30 or once a month? Benefits start right away am I correct?

I would love to hear more feedbacks so I will be enlightened and therefore be able to make a wise decision.

Thank you so much.

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Specializes in Corrections, Education, Med/Surg, AGNP-HIV.
Thanks for your reply. I work in nurisng/rehab now. I was just offered the highest start pay for the prison job ($4200). I am so confused really. I dont have any idea about the place and I will have to relocate for the job.

Do you work in prison? How is it? so u mean there's plenty of opportunity for OT? May i ask also, hows the pay? Is it every 2 weeks or 15/30 or once a month? Benefits start right away am I correct?

I would love to hear more feedbacks so I will be enlightened and therefore be able to make a wise decision.

Thank you so much.

Yes, I have been in correctional nursing for many years now. Most of them as an LVN and recently now as an RN. I used to make more as an LVN but the position was different than it is now. Now the RN pays good the LVN pay is OK. We get paid once a month and all overtime is paid on the 15th of the month. I believe benefits start right away and you cant beat the retirement.

What facility it sounds as if it is in CA that is where I am. I left a med/surg floor as an LVN all those years ago and have not looked back. It depends on the facility but there always seems to be some overtime available some periods of time more than others. It is a different environment but I have never felt unsafe. Firm, fair, and consistent is the best policy when dealing with inmate/patients. Most LVN's work in the clinics and pass meds, run dr line, vitals, treatments, etc, assist with emergencies. RN's work in all the clinics, and infirmary as well so you always have back up. Hope I covered it all. You are the only one who can make the decision for yourself. Do you want to move?write out pros and cons in your head. Anything else let me know.

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Yes, I have been in correctional nursing for many years now. Most of them as an LVN and recently now as an RN. I used to make more as an LVN but the position was different than it is now. Now the RN pays good the LVN pay is OK. We get paid once a month and all overtime is paid on the 15th of the month. I believe benefits start right away and you cant beat the retirement.

What facility it sounds as if it is in CA that is where I am. I left a med/surg floor as an LVN all those years ago and have not looked back. It depends on the facility but there always seems to be some overtime available some periods of time more than others. It is a different environment but I have never felt unsafe. Firm, fair, and consistent is the best policy when dealing with inmate/patients. Most LVN's work in the clinics and pass meds, run dr line, vitals, treatments, etc, assist with emergencies. RN's work in all the clinics, and infirmary as well so you always have back up. Hope I covered it all. You are the only one who can make the decision for yourself. Do you want to move?write out pros and cons in your head. Anything else let me know.

hi. thank you for your immediate response and thanks as well for giving me a background of the work and pay there. :up:

I got hired in Ironwood prison in Blythe,Ca. where u at? although as ive said, its only for full time limited term.

another thing Id like to ask is I just saw in the CPHC site that there's an opening for full time LVN in the bay area. Is it possible for me to just transfer my application there? or should I just push thru with the blythe one and then ask for transfer in a few months? is that possible? my family would prefer to move in the bay area and as I noticed, opening is for full time. one of the concerns I have in moving to blythe is the weather coz I know that its in the desert and my wife doesnt like that.:o

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Hi everyone!

i got job offer in Avenal prison as limited term intermittent as LVN . Since this is my first job in prison I have tons of questions í ½í¸•í ½í¸Ÿ. I do have work experience of 4 Months in rehab center and community clinic. Someone please help me, guide me.

How long live scan and finger print takes ? what kind of job does an LVN does there ? What kind of schedule would it have, I meant I can't work night shift. Since it it limited term, do I get overtime ? Based on my experience what would be my starting pay ? When I filled the application it had clearly mentioned $22.84 per hour but in job description it had mentioned that monthly salary will begun $3900 per month ? I am REALLY VERY confused. Please SOMEONE Help me.

Thanks in advance

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Hi everyone!

i got job offer in Avenal prison as limited term intermittent as LVN . Since this is my first job in prison I have tons of questions ������������. I do have work experience of 4 Months in rehab center and community clinic. Someone please help me, guide me.

How long live scan and finger print takes ? what kind of job does an LVN does there ? What kind of schedule would it have, I meant I can't work night shift. Since it it limited term, do I get overtime ? Based on my experience what would be my starting pay ? When I filled the application it had clearly mentioned $22.84 per hour but in job description it had mentioned that monthly salary will begun $3900 per month ? I am REALLY VERY confused. Please SOMEONE Help me.

Thanks in advance

avenal, are you in NJ?

I just recently accepted a nursing position in NJ as well.

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Specializes in oncology, med surg & corrections.

Well, if you were in AZ the clearance takes 3-4 weeks. Here they do the medications primarily. Our nurses do anywhere from 75-150 inmates twice in a 10 hr shift. If you have any questions, just message me and if you move to AZ, let me know :)

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Hi

Not in NJ, it's in California (Avenal state prison). Congratulations for new job offer. Did you get full time position.

Good luck for your future and keep sharing you're experience please

thanks

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Yeah, they had a full time and part time. I'm in school right now for NP. SO i took part time and left my ortho hospital job. took a slight pay cut, but i wanted to try something new.

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