Correctional Prison/jail cna

Jlsmithh · Sep 12, 2012

Im wondering the same thing...

funtimes · Sep 12, 2012

Ive heard from people I know who are corrections officers that these jobs have extremely high turnover(even higher than normal CNA jobs), so thats something to keep in mind. Ive also heard that if its a male prison, its probably not a good idea to work as a female CNA, assuming they would even hire a female aide.

Wonderlost · Sep 12, 2012

I worked in my county jail for a year as a CNA/med tech.

My hours were either 3-11, or 7-5, every other weekend.

I worked with a team of ER nurses, a PA, a psych dr, & a D.O.

My pay was 15.00 an hour, but I was only part time so I had no benefits or anything like that.

County jails have around 500 inmates, expect more in a prison. Only about 300 of them actually took medications, the rest of them could put in sick calls to see the medical staff if they ever had an issue.

Think of an ER, but with police officers.

I enjoyed the job, but you have to be careful working in a jail just bc of who you are working with. They will take advantage of you if you give them the chance, and sue you in a heartbeat.

I will never again work in a jail, but that is just out of personal reasons. I learned a lot & am thankful for the experience, but no one seems to need a CNA with a correctional skill set, so I am having difficulties finding a new job.

Hope this helped.

Wonderlost · Sep 12, 2012

Also, I was a male aide, & was the only male aide there for a long time. Expect some harassment from the male side, but it is not terrible, honestly. I was harassed just as much on the female side. Just be professional.

Just keep in mind that things are different inside of the jails. You are going to have family members calling you trying to get information from them & telling you whatever just to try to get you to do it, but you can't.

You have to abide by the jail rules as well as the medical departments rules, & it can be easy to get in trouble.

ShaneseU · Sep 12, 2012

Thanks very helpful $15 sounds great even for part time..benefits would be nice though

Wonderlost · Sep 12, 2012

That was just in my specific county jail. I knew the vice president of the company, and she was contracted to work in that jail alone, so she set the rate of pay for the techs & the nurses.

It sounds nice, but when I started there, they had me working full time hours with no benefits, & by the time I was let go, I was working maybe 2-3 days a week & only 6 hour shifts, so I could of made more with a full time job making 10$ an hour probably.

Don't do it for just the money lol, if you decide to leave & get a new job, it can be hard

ShaneseU · Sep 12, 2012

Yes true. I was looking for experiance tl maybe get into a hospital setting ( looking to get into the nursing program in north carolina) we need atleast 6mths experiance and right now the DOC doesnt really require that much experiance

Wonderlost · Sep 12, 2012

DOC is the prison, things will be different there.

I am in NC too, I worked inside of the Gaston county jail.

I've also applied to the DOC CNA jobs but have yet to hear a response lol.

I got lucky when I got the jail job, but I only took it for the money. I wish I hadn't, even though I learned a lot, it doesn't matter that I know what I know bc I'm a just a CNA -_-

I would try a nursing home, & then after a few months, apply at hospitals.

ShaneseU · Sep 12, 2012

Honestly i dont,know what to do. I live in raleigh and there, are several prisons & jails over here..guess im just gonna try my luck

Wonderlost · Sep 12, 2012

I am going to go back to school & get my CNA2, until I find a good enough job that I can pay for school myself

Nursing market is flooded right now, especially here in NC, it is hard to find anything for us as CNA's aside from home healthcare -_-

Try dialysis clinics, it would be good experience bc they train their techs to use the machines, at least the one I interviewed at does.

You might want to get your med tech certification as well

ShaneseU · Sep 13, 2012

Ok thanks i know alot of places want 6mths experiance did you do a lot of volunteer work?