EnigmaticParadigm

This is pretty much how my first year in nursing went. Hopefully it will help those that are dreading the first 365 day journey: Graduated on 12/16/06 in California. Was hired to ICU two days later. Took a good week off to basically drink coffee, play World of Warcraft, stare at the wall, and pack all my school stuff away (yay!). Beginning of January I started studying for the NCLEX with a good friend from my graduating class. We lived and breathed the Saunders NCLEX review book (awesome study CD included). I practiced about 300 - 400 questions per day and wrote down all the questions and answers I got wrong. The hospital that hired me put on a free, week-long NCLEX review course with a MD; was an awesome refresher. Took the NCLEX down in LA on February 24th. Computer shut off at 75 questions in 35 minutes. Found out I passed by checking online two days later. Worked in ICU from January to May. I won't lie, the "real world" nursing is soooo much different than school. YOU are now the nurse and have to act accordingly. Took my ACLS, went to multiple codes, had very complex patients, and was loving it. However, I was on night shift (7pm to 7am) and was only making $24.75/ hour. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. I was getting burned out by realizing that the hospital I worked at didn't pay very well at all and was frustrated that I wasn't making enough money (for a house, car, etc). I loved the patho and science of where I worked, but I was monitarily depressed. I was hired by CDCR in May and have never looked back. Last year at this time I was working as Loss Prevention in a local Target. For the year of 2006 I made just over $7,000...total. As this year comes to a close, I have made almost $109,000 (go-go overtime). It's crazy to think how much can change in one year. So, to all of the new grads and those that are trekking through your first year: there is light at the end of the tunnel. You will arise from a timid and insecure new employee to a confident and experienced nurse. I can't count how many times I wanted to quit, find a new job, etc. I was frustrated, wondering "why didn't school teach me this?," and wanted to call in sick numerous times. However, looking back, I can say that I have definately gotten my "land legs." Don't ever give up. The longer you're in nursing, the more you realize just how many different kinds of jobs are available to a licensed RN. If you truely aren't happy with where you are at: MOVE. I love nursing; more than I ever thought I would. If you were smart enough to get through school and the NCLEX, you're definately smart enough to be a competant RN. Never doubt yourself, use every experience as a learning tool, ask thousands of questions, and do your thing. All of the best to those of you who have stuck it out and I salute all of you who are getting ready to start your own 365 day journey. You'll all do wonderful. Oh, and remember to unclamp haning IV bags before you turn the pump on. Not that I have done that or anything...

That is a damn good HESI score. I got straight A's in nursing school and I think I only got a 920 (I'm shaking my fist at Pediatrics right now over the Internet). With that HESI score you should plow through the NCLEX no problem. NCLEX took me about 35 minutes and my friend about 1.5 hours (he got hammered with Labor and Delivery questions while I got mainly Pharmacology and Oncology; I laughed at him ).

I worked under my IP License in ICU for almost two months before taking the NCLEX in California. Guess it depends on the area.

Never any new threads in this section . Anyways, what is your favorite trauma and/or "man down" story? Mine would be either the 72 year old man with an AICD that was reapeatedly firing (throwing him into wide complex vtach then shocking him out of it...was cruel and efficient at the same time) or the anaphylactic patient who swallowed three of his celly's doxycycline thinking they were Tyelnol #3; inspiratory stridor for the win (he was probably about ten minutes out from full upper airway closure). Yours?

Went from $24.75/ hour when I started in January. I'm up to ~$46.00/ hour now (after a small raise; different nursing field). This is living in Kern County, CA.

People say I'm full of "chit."

There are SO many kinds of nursing, saying that "nursing" in general is a poor field to get into is not being intellectually honest. Want to be an occupational nurse for Budweiser? Sure. Want to be an elementary school nurse? No prob. Want to help attorneys with malpractice lawsuits? Go for it. Want to jump out of helicopters and rescue injured climbers in the middle of nowhere? Awesome. Want to work at a world famous pediatric hospital? Etc. etc. Nursing /= poop

I'm in the same boat as Sheri. I got hired on at CDCR as well, and I won't lie: it was for the money. The fact that I love my job turned out to be a definate plus. There are several nurses who work four or five 16 hour days/ week and will make over $200,000 this year; hell, three nurses have already passed $150,000 so far this tax year. And, like Sheri, I live in a cheap part of CA. It is kind of a sadistic satisfaction to know that you make as much as pharmacists (most that I know personally make around $110,000 to $150,000 per year), hospital NPs, PAs, etc working as a RN. PAs at our prison (registry) pull down over $24,000 per month. It's crazy. Tell me another occupation where someone with a two-year degree from a community college could bring down $200,000+ per year (drawback is a LOT of overtime, heh). I love nursing :).

Our PLATA officers rule. Very, very helpful. Everything is a team effort; you help them, they help you.

I feel very safe at my prison, but I do a lot of common sense things to increase that feeling: Never turn your back on an inmate; dont let them walk behind you on the way to the blood pressure machine, dont turn your back as you dispose of sharps, etc. Don't talk about your personal life with other staff in front of the inmates. Even simple things, said over time, will paint a very detailed picture. Inmates are always listening...always. Make sure at least one custody officer is with you at all times: in the clinics, TTA, CTC, escorting, etc. Especially if youre the only staff in the clinic. Always carry your damn alarm. It bugs me that so many medical staff brush off chiting out an alarm. It may save your life. This goes for your whistle, too. Always chit out a radio (with a working battery, lol) and have it close by. Pay the extra $20.00 and purchase an alarm holder for your belt (mine was covered under yearly uniform allowance). Take the radio with you if you are going out to the buildings. Even if it's never used for security purposes, custody will love you for the fact that you can respond even faster to "man-downs." Always interview an inmate near a working telephone. Most in CDCR know the trick I'm talking about. Know your surroundings, exits, quick escape routes. You never know. This also includes fire extinguishers, fire alarms, etc. BE RESPECTFUL. There is a big difference between respectful and friendly. I treat all of the inmates I come in contact with as human beings without carrying on conversations with them or allowing personal information to leak out. I address all inmates by their last names (as in "Mr. Smith"), ask them how they are doing today, and thank them for their time when our sessions have ended. If an inmate I've helped in the past says "'sup man" when I walk by, I simply say, "good morning, afternoon, etc" and keep walking. I see WAAAAAY too many medical staff being downright rude to inmates when there is no need (power trip?). That type of behavior, over time, could get you "green-lighted" real quick. To go along with the respect notion: always keep your word and 'fess up for mistakes. If you told an inmate that he would be placed in MD Line or that you would look in to his missing meds, then do it. If you forget and they call you on it, 'fess up and say that you will still look in to the matter. Again, being a truthful individual not only boosts the image of medical staff, but builds respect. When a yard alarm goes off, don't go running to the scene before it is cleared by custody. Not only is waiting back a bit safer, but it can save you the nasty OC spray leftovers (happened to me once...blarg). Never loan out your personal items or equipment to inmates. Make sure they have a pen filler to write with in advance. Never hand them over a pen. May sound stupid, but in doing so, you just gave them a weapon if they chose to use it as such. Never leave your post without letting someone know. If nobody can find you, custody will go so far as to lock the whole damn facility down and do extensive building searches until youre found. It's happened before and people were p i s s e d. Never stand in such a way that would make it easy to get "gassed" by inmates. I've seen LVNs put their damn faces inside the food slots in cell doors. Ugh. NEVER EVER place your keys down; not even for a second. Secure them to your purchased key holders/ scabbard. Custody, where I work, will take keys that medical staff lay down and hide them to prove a point (least they don't turn you in for it, heh). They'll hand them back after cold panic sets in and the medical staff member begins to freak out. Actually, it's pretty funny, heh. Have a good working relationship with fellow medical and custody staff. Back them up and they will back you up. That's about all I can think of off the top of my head. As long as you follow the rules of the institution and use common sense, you'll be fine. It really is a safe place to work. I'd take a clinic shift over a hospital ER shift any day (safety wise).

I work as a Correctional RN at one of the State of California's prisons. I run one of the "yard" clinics (one of five) during the day shift (0600 to 1400). There are approximately 200 inmates per building and six buildings total...1200 inmates to one RN, rofl. Some days are tougher than others, but all in all it's a blast; never know what you're going to get. The pay more than makes up for the craziness: $5100.00 take home for a normal 40 hour work week/ month + approx. $3000.00 take home in overtime/ month (about $11,000.00 per/ month before taxes). Not too shabby for an out-of-hospital RN.

Hello all, Well, where to start? I am a recent "new grad" who got my foundation in the ICU. I learned all the basics, mastered content, delved into the science, and came out alive. However, I wasn't very content. My fiance' works at a state prison here in CA in accounting; therefore, she saw how much all the different categories of employees made. She mentioned one day how much Registered Nurse - Correction Facility nurses made. I just about fell out of my chair. Working in the ICU I made $24.75 per hour as a new grad (plus 10% for weekends and an additional 10% for nights). So, working a weekend night 12 hour shift would gross me about $348.00. Take that a step further and go beyond the standard three-day work week and add in an addtional day: comes to about $1300.00 for the week --> $5200.00 per month. Keep in mind, this amount is for working 48 hours. Now, due to the Plata vs. Davis lawsuit (which carried over to Arnold), inmates in the state of California were awarded many more rights concerning their health, dental, and psychological care. The state of healthcare in the CDC was so poor, that a special position was created in Sacramento to oversee CDC healthcare for the next 5 years or so; this was done to prevent the Federal government and Bureau of Prisons from taking over CDC healthcare. Fast-forward to October 2006. This newly appointed government official started to clean house in a big way. However, the stigma of correctional nursing being only for "nurses who suck" was powerful. This official had to overcome this stereotype in order to bring in strong nurses. And the best way to do that? You got it: money. Therefore, most new RN hires are brought on under "Plata positions" and they are VERY well compensated. The starting wage for a Registered Nurse, Correctional Facility (Plata position) is from $7045.00 to $8100.00 per month. Let that soak in a moment. So, let's break this down. Taking the "step A" wage of $7045.00 per month for 40 hours worked, it comes out to be just over $44.00 per hour. This is working five 8 hour shifts with two consecutive days off in a row. Instead of working either day or night shift at the hospital, you have the choice of three shifts, or "watches." These run from 6am - 2pm (second watch), 2pm - 10pm (third watch), and 10pm -6am (first watch). So, not only do CDC RNs make $19.25 more per hour, they gross more than a RN working at the local hospital who worked 5 days in a week; a total of 60 hours (depending on which hospital's overtime calculation you are going off of). But wait, it gets more interesting: overtime. You want overtime at the CDC? You got it...in boatloads. Sometimes you are actually stopped at the gate and told to report back to your unit in order to do another 8 hour shift. Some may hate this, others may like it; it's all personal preference I suppose. Want to pick up some extra overtime? No problem. Many live for the chance of overtime, but many more want to go home at the end of their shift. I'm in the boat of people that love overtime. This is how overtime works (basically): You don't have to wait until you are over 40 hours for overtime to kick in. If you work over your 8 hour shift, you automatically begin overtime hours. Overtime at CDC is time-and-a-half. This works out to be roughly $66.00 an hour. Now, let's compare again: Hospital day: 12 hours x $24.75 = $297.00 Hospital overtime day (assuming overtime = "double-time"): 12 hours x ($24.75 x 2) = $594.00 CDC regular day: 8 hours x $44.00 = $352.00 CDC overtime day: (8 hours x $44.00) + (8 hours x $66.00) = $800.00 This may not be a true "apples-to-apples" comparison due to the fact that the hospital worker is working a 12 hour shift, while the CDC worker is working a 16 hour shift. But, here is where the fun comes in... Let's say I work M-F from 6am to 2pm. This is a standard 40 hour workweek at CDC. For doing this every week in a pay period, I will gross $7045.00 per month. Now, let's add in two days of overtime shifts. Remember, that is two 8 hour shifts at $66.00 per hour. So, combine the 40 hour week at $44.00 per hour with the 16 hours of overtime at $66.00 per hour, you get $2816.00 per week; now, multiply that by 4 weeks = $11264.00 per month for working a 60 hour week for 4 weeks. Working a 60 hour week at the hospital (5 twelve hour shifts) makes approximately $1960.00 per week; again, multiply that by 4 weeks = $7920.00. So, the difference, in raw hours worked (with overtime figured in) is approximately $3344.00 per month in favor of the CDC RN. Let's take it a step further again just for fun. Yearly gross hospital worker income on 60 hours worked per week: $95040.00 Yearly gross CDC worker income on 60 hours worked per week: $135,168.00 Total difference: $40,128 per year Pumped yet? Need more info? Good :), continue to read on. Oops, forgot to mention the $4500.00 sign-on bonus. Okay, so what is the application process like? Well, first you have to register on the Ca state website and take a "test." It's not even really a test; more like a survey of what you have done within the last 6 months or so. After completing the test, you get an immediate grade which then ranks you against everyone else in Ca applying for the job. There are a total of 14 ranks (I think) and CDC usually only pulls applicants for interviews out of the top 3 ranks. As it stands now, there is roughly 3000 to 4000 people who are ranked for interviews in the entire state. So, you basically have to wait your turn to be interviewed. This process took about four months for me. When I tested, I ranked 4 out of 14. Then one day I got a call to come in for an interview. I arrived and had to answer questions in front of a panel of three interviewers. After the interview, about two weeks passed until they started to call for references (keep in mind that the CDC will usually only call for reference checks if they are thinking of hiring). After that round of waiting, I received a call one week later with the job offer pending a TB test, physical, and DOJ/FBI background check. So, with all of that out of the way, I was hired. So, time from completing the online test to starting my first day at worked took about 4 months (your mileage may vary). At the prison I was applying for, they were hiring a total of 14 new RNs and interviewed approximately 150 applicants. I'm a little tired tonight to type out what my days are like, so I will continue this thread at a later date. Needless to say, I LOVE my job. I love going to work, I love working overtime, and I love the excitement, challenge, responsibility, and the compensation. I didn't even mention the retirement, benefits, etc which are equally spectacular (safety retirement rules). So, if you are curious about going into a career in correctional nursing, reply to this thread and I will answer what I can from my experience. It was the best choice I've ever made. To be continued...

"Never dip your pen in the company ink..."

Do you paint all groups with that broad brush of generalizations? I would say more, but I can see you must be having a hard time with unknown issues, so I will refrain. Breathe deep, follow directions, don't cause waves, pass classes, graduate, and move on. Nursing school should never be abusive, but neither is it all fluffy bunnies and rainbows. Learn to deal with difficult personalities. By your statement, the school has a high pass rate on the NCLEX, so the instructors must be doing something right. You don't have to love the person or even like them; simply learn from them. Their job is to teach. Your job is to learn. Start learning.

Bakersfield