Michigan Correctional Nurses

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Hello,

I am currently a nursing student about 20 school weeks from graduation and was hoping to get some information on correctional nursing. I have read many threads on the topic and am weighing the options as I know many people believe that experience as a nurse is a must in this area. I agree to a certain extent but many of the arguments are things like needing to work well under pressure and being able to respond to emergencies and things like that. I don't mean any disrespect but some of the reasons for not starting out in this area seem to be more life experience situations not necessarily nursing related. I am 39 and have worked in EMS for nearly 20 years and I am not saying that would take the place of nursing experience but it does help in the sense that I have worked under pressure my whole adult life while responding to emergency scenes. Here is my dilemma, I know that I want to work in public health- after many clinical hours the hospital just doesn't appeal to me as it did prior to starting the nursing program.

This brings me to why I really wanted to post this putting aside whether new grads should go this route is it even possible to get a position as a new grad in Michigan and if so am I able to apply before having the license in hand or can I just put my potential graduation date and pending exam info. I am afraid they will just discard the application if there is no license number to give them but I anticipate working for the state would be a long process and want to start it as soon as I can. I appreciate all responses. Thank you.

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Specializes in ER.
Hello,

I am currently a nursing student about 20 school weeks from graduation and was hoping to get some information on correctional nursing. I have read many threads on the topic and am weighing the options as I know many people believe that experience as a nurse is a must in this area. I agree to a certain extent but many of the arguments are things like needing to work well under pressure and being able to respond to emergencies and things like that. I don't mean any disrespect but some of the reasons for not starting out in this area seem to be more life experience situations not necessarily nursing related. I am 39 and have worked in EMS for nearly 20 years and I am not saying that would take the place of nursing experience but it does help in the sense that I have worked under pressure my whole adult life while responding to emergency scenes. Here is my dilemma, I know that I want to work in public health- after many clinical hours the hospital just doesn't appeal to me as it did prior to starting the nursing program.

This brings me to why I really wanted to post this putting aside whether new grads should go this route is it even possible to get a position as a new grad in Michigan and if so am I able to apply before having the license in hand or can I just put my potential graduation date and pending exam info. I am afraid they will just discard the application if there is no license number to give them but I anticipate working for the state would be a long process and want to start it as soon as I can. I appreciate all responses. Thank you.

I work in corrections now, but not in.Michigan. I plan on moving to Michigan once I become an RN. I am wondering what the conditions are like in Michigan and the pay.

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I work in corrections now, but not in.Michigan. I plan on moving to Michigan once I become an RN. I am wondering what the conditions are like in Michigan and the pay.

I can only go by what is posted on the state website since I am still about ten weeks away from graduation. I have been told by other students that the pay is great but according to the website it ranges from $21-28/hr. which is a little confusing since hospitals around me start around 26-27 hr. if I find any solid information I will pass it along.

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(waves to the OP, fellow former medic gone RN ) The $21-$28/hr sounds about right to me. When I graduated last year I looked into going agency at one of the MDOC mental health facilities (I wanted to go with mental health nursing-still do) and that was the wage that was tossed around. Ended up working for an LTAC for a lot more money due to my acute care background. It was a hard decision but some issues I had with corrections were 1. you are always agency so 2. the State is always looking to cut corners with contractors.

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Specializes in Corrections.

I am currently working in MI as an RN in a maximum security prison. I have been here 5 years, and have seen many things I never wanted to see. You have to be assertive and have to be able to leave work at work at the end of the day. Our physicians and PAs work for a private contractor called Corizon, but the nursing staff is employed by the MDOC. As far as pay, we actually top out at a little higher than the range listed in the comment above. Our employer requires at least one year of nursing experience.

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