PHS or CMS? Benefits? Work Conditions?

GrkGrl · May 1, 2004

Which company has better benefits such as health insurance, retirement and disabiity?
Which has better working conditions?
Since problems are site specific, if you are working at a good site with good administration - where are the good sites to work at?
Thanks for your input.

I can only speak for CMS. I worked for them for four years in MA. Their benefits are terrible. Health ins was lousy, no pension, only 401K that they contributed nearly nothing to. Also they seemed to have a huge problem with payroll, every payperiod, someone's check would be wrong. I did not like the company. I found that it was all about money, their money. I did not feel like they valued their employees. Of course this is only my opinion.

jailDON · May 12, 2004

The situation is basically the same for PHS. They don't match a penny of your 401K. As far as work conditions...it depends on what the community can afford. If the contract calls for a decent ratio between nurses and patients, that's what they provide. If you are in a economically depressed area, the ratio is going to be terrible. PHS is willing to do what the customer wants to a certain point. They will fight for more positions if they see a huge liability.

erroridiot · May 15, 2004

The situation is basically the same for PHS. They don't match a penny of your 401K. As far as work conditions...it depends on what the community can afford. If the contract calls for a decent ratio between nurses and patients, that's what they provide. If you are in a economically depressed area, the ratio is going to be terrible. PHS is willing to do what the customer wants to a certain point. They will fight for more positions if they see a huge liability.

Does PHS treat their employees in a respectful manner?

What health insurance does PHS have?

Thank you for your helpful input.

jailDON · May 15, 2004

The health insurance is United Healthcare which I really like but the cost of our prescriptions has really gone up.

The first question is a little difficult. After 3 years I have only recently felt bad treatment from the company. They are nervous about the contract renewal and are insisting we kiss the sheriff's dept's a$$. They don't care that some harrassment is going on right now.

erroridiot · May 16, 2004

The health insurance is United Healthcare which I really like but the cost of our prescriptions has really gone up.
The first question is a little difficult. After 3 years I have only recently felt bad treatment from the company. They are nervous about the contract renewal and are insisting we kiss the sheriff's dept's a$$. They don't care that some harrassment is going on right now.

Thank you for sharing.

I certainly hope that you and your staff are not expected to endure any harrassment or abuse from the guards.

jailDON · May 18, 2004

No nothing too serious.

I just found out I can work in the hospital as a staff nurse for $2 more an hour than I"m getting as DON pay that is salaried. I don't know if the pay is really behind just for PHS nurses or if it that way all over for corrections nurses.

erroridiot · May 19, 2004

I just found out I can work in the hospital as a staff nurse for $2 more an hour than I"m getting as DON pay that is salaried. I don't know if the pay is really behind just for PHS nurses or if it that way all over for corrections nurses.

It's hard to say about pay which varies even within regions. I would say that generally, correctional nursing pays less than even long term care nursing.

Here I could work at a hospital for $2-4 dollars more per hour. I faxed my resume to a hospital several months ago and a nurse manager called me for an interview. Her first sentence was "So you work in a jail. Well, how do you like that?". This person then proceeded to burst out in hysterical laughter. I told her that I was very busy at my current job at the jail and made an appointment for the interview. I did not go to the interview and called to cancel 5 minutes prior to the appointment. She did not deserve a cancellation call, but I am too ethical to stand people up. I think that she just called me to make fun of someone so she could have a moment of superiority (all to herself, of course).

I should have reported her to the administration of her "prestigious" hospital.

jailDON · May 20, 2004

Hysterical laughter, how rude.

I recently went to an interview for a prn hospital position and I did not receive a warm welcome though since they are desperate for nurses, I was offered a position.

Their concern: "Your current job involves clients who are a captive audience, no pun intended (smile) and we don't believe you don't have what it takes to make the paying customer happy."

fiestynurse · May 21, 2004

...

erroridiot · May 23, 2004

Erroridiot - I would have gone to the interview and educated this ignoramus about Correctional Nursing.

If I were a feisty person, I might take this person on.

I am currently working in the most toxic environment you can imagine and I would prefer to ignore the bullies and spend my energy interviewing with someone who is emotionally healthy - if that kind of nurse manager can still be found anywhere.

My schedule only allows me a little bit of time for interviews each week.

My own personal philosophy is that you can not reason with an unreasonable person.

erroridiot · May 24, 2004

Their concern: "Your current job involves clients who are a captive audience, no pun intended (smile) and we don't believe you don't have what it takes to make the paying customer happy."

I would be concerned about the emotional maturity of these potential employers. In fact, I would be so concerned that I would not work for them - not even if they apologized for their inappropriate comments.