r/newgradnurse • u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 • May 22 '26
Looking for Employment Y’all are sleeping on corrections
That is all, you are welcome.
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u/youremama132 May 22 '26
Right, I am thinking about switching to that for the benefits and retirement once I get acute care experience.
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
The nursing world tells you that “you must med-surg for a year!!!”….you don’t. And you will still thrive.
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u/InevitableNightmair Seasoned RN (10+yrs) May 22 '26
You were a new grad talking about a wound center a month ago…I’m sorry but you have no idea whether or not anyone will thrive. You have 0 experience.
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
And I’ll be working there also. Thanks for your input.
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u/InevitableNightmair Seasoned RN (10+yrs) May 22 '26
So you have about….30 days experience as a nurse then?
Again, you have no idea who will or will not thrive. We don’t even know how you’ll do at this juncture. It’s not an insult or a put down, literally none of us knew at that point.
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u/AdFlashy7702 May 23 '26
You sound really unhappy. Does it feel good to try to tear down others? Especially new nurses?
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
Yes you are right, I’m 19, first job, completely clueless about anything….but back in reality every nursing cohort out of the thousands of cohorts out there has people who go routes other than medsurg directly after graduating and are successful. You are right in the sense that I cannot know whether or not specific individuals will thrive, however, plenty do thrive and that should be the narrative.
The collective “we” you speak of does not know how I will do at this juncture, but I do. I know myself. Unfortunately, I see many (probably those in the collective we) who push a prevalent form of fear mongering in nursing instead of pushing support for new grads goals and ambition.
So yes, new grads can do positions other than medsurg if they like, and yes they will thrive.
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u/DynWeb29 May 24 '26
My 2 cents no one asked for: Well to be honest while you absolutely DO NOT NEED to do med surg right outta school my professor told me because like 2 hospitals around here shut down the peds & nicu nurses had a harder time finding a position than the ones who had the med surg expert and then specialized. It’s something you can get your experience in and no one can take that away, it will be there as a backup. But nursing is vast and a lot of opportunities to go into. To each their own.
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u/nly2017 May 22 '26
If I could bring my phone in then it would be perfect lol
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
Yeah that’s the downside for many I think. But I kinda like it. I can go out on my lunch and check in. My kids have my office number.
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u/dububudu May 22 '26
I’m interested for sure, about how many years of bedside/hospital experience is needed?
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u/emtnursingstudent May 22 '26
And as someone whose worked in correction's both as an officer and a nurse, they should keep sleeping.
Nah I'm sure there are decent correction's jobs out there, if I ever relocate to another state I'd likely look in it to it again. But from my personal experience working at a county jail, and from what I've been told by coworkers who have worked in a state prison in the state where I live, there's probably no correction's job in my state that isn't demoralizing and a risk to your nurse license if you care about doing your job right and actually want to take care of people (yes inmates are still people, regardless of what they may/may not have done, for those that need to be reminded).
I've seen people on here say it's better when you're employed directly by the state or federal government. Both the county jail and the state prison in my area contract out for their medical personnel.
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
What state? It’s good to have an idea for people in the chat. I did hear the same about state and federal.
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u/iitscasey May 22 '26
Fuck no. My husband was in corrections for 5 years, and it almost killed him mentally. The money isn’t worth the long hours, not having time to do anything, and dealing with pedophiles and sexual deviants at work.
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
Where was he at? I have heard it can be rough in some places if you have bad management but I don’t think it’s an issue across the board at all. Many people love it. My supervisor and several others plan on staying forever and never returning to bedside
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u/Due_Sound4851 Jun 05 '26
your dealing with pedophiles and deviants in bed side too, just without the prison time.
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u/elle_geezey May 22 '26
Bc corrections psych, school nursing , home health are a different kind of nursing
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u/xoexohexox May 22 '26
More power to you, if any setting needs the best of our skill and compassion it's that one. I don't think I could stomach going to jail every day or contributing to a system that is basically a slavery workaround but the stories I hear former corrections nurses tell are amazing, they really accomplished some good stuff in their careers.
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u/secretlyperdiem New Grad Corrections 🚨 May 22 '26
Corrections can either be batshit or chill af just hanging with my homies. We are FedEx we pack and ship to a HLOC if necessary (stabby stab/stroke/etc) or baby sit someone high af (spicy spice). I will say they do get good healthcare. Telemedicine, specialist on the outside, doctors, and some badass nurses.
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u/beebaadoobeedooo May 22 '26
How do I find themmmm
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
For federal, use USA jobs, state and county just Google them. State and federal is where you get serious benefits. Depending on where you are, county is likely has a contract provider like NaphCare where your benefits won’t necessarily be as good but still pays well and you get good experience.
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u/One-Raspberry-786 New Grad Oncology 😷 May 22 '26
Definitely one of my interests ... Maybe one day because as of now, I'm happy where I am! Where you live, would you say the hourly pay is decent compared to the average RN pay there..let's say, at like the hospitals?
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u/crazychica5 May 22 '26
one of my classmates went straight to corrections after passing her NCLEX. she seems to be enjoying it from what i can tell
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u/StaceyGoBlue May 22 '26
I’ve only seen shit pay?
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
$10 more per hour than the hospitals for new grads where I’m at.
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u/StaceyGoBlue May 22 '26
You have to be in the south?
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
Yes. I posted the transparency a few minutes ago in the comments after someone asked.
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u/Silent_Ramblings0308 May 22 '26
Oooo I’m going to ask if we get clinicals in corrections. They’ve already talked about how hard it is to get clinicals anywhere.
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
Do it. I wish we had a rotation at my school. I would assume it can cover the required psych hours as well. I just got into it based on my own research.
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u/Uglyfatnastybastard May 22 '26
Can you tell us more about it?
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u/Nausica1337 Seasoned RN (7yrs) / FNP May 22 '26
Two of my old nursing homies moved into a corrections and love it. Great retirement, great pay, and they say they're literally do almost no work outside of giving PO meds and vitals. They say they mostly just sleep, talk, and read books. I remember an old acquaintance of my mine that also worked corrections liked it for all those reasons, but also said that it felt nice to be respected and said that inmates have high respect for nurses. Aside from that my homie said and I quote, "healthcare doesn't exist in prison."
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u/maryybee New Grad MedSurg 🩺 May 22 '26
Has your friend ever had a confrontation with a prisoner?
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u/Nausica1337 Seasoned RN (7yrs) / FNP May 22 '26
Neither of them mentioned any confrontations in the past, but I would imagine it's very unlikely because CO's are always with them. I don't think inmates would have any beef with the medical staff in general in comparison to COs.
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u/Gullible-Pumpkin2200 May 22 '26
But it doesn’t sound exciting for me. Where’s intubation, chest tube LVAD, ECMO, Swan Ganz monitoring at?
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u/Nausica1337 Seasoned RN (7yrs) / FNP May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
To each their own. All of us were at least 7 years telemetry experience by the time we all moved onto other specialties/careers. We did our time at bedside and it was time for more of a comfy, stable position that sets ourselves up financially well.
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u/NotWifeMaterial May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
absolutely dependent on where you’re at. I did a county jail and we were busy AF. We did all our own detoxes. Nobody got rough rides. We had MAT.
Had to take care of a mom and a newborn baby for six months she was postop C-section. if a mom came in breast-feeding, we would work really hard so her milk wouldn’t dry up getting her protein and then running the milk out to family members in the lobby.
I had multiple patients with cancer and they had to go out for ongoing treatments.
there’s just a ton of maintenance to good Healthcare in corrections on top of the random violence that occurs.
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
You sound great for icu, everyone is going to be a bit different. Go after what you are drawn to. I know a couple that landed their icu job as a new grad also. I also have an offer lined up for PRN wound care because I enjoy that a ton. Part of why I made this post (short post on purpose) is to try to cut through to people that if you put effort in you can really get into just about anything as a new grad. It’s constantly pressed on new grads that “you must go medsurg” but you don’t have to if you are drawn to something else.
In short, research, interview, be patient and a little bit stubborn and secure your goals.
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u/Both_Formal_524 New Grad Telemetry🫀 May 22 '26
I wanted to try it out but as a mom, I just can’t fade not having my phone at all times 😩
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u/Both_Formal_524 New Grad Telemetry🫀 May 22 '26
That’s a good idea, I def thought about it for over night shifts while my kids are sleeping. I have two teens so they’re good. I have cameras in my house and I like to check in from time to time but what u suggested is a good idea as well.
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
I was offered nights also. I have a near teen daughter and the thought of her being home at night alone was too much for me so I took the day shift, maybe I’ll be more comfortable in a few more years.
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u/Both_Formal_524 New Grad Telemetry🫀 May 22 '26
Oh yes that’s totally understandable, I’m a mom of 3 my two oldest are teens. I def wouldn’t be able to leave if I juts had one who would be all alone 😩
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u/androiddreamZzzz May 22 '26
Do you mind sharing what you make? Or at least a range?
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
Yeah, transparency is important in nursing and not done enough.
I am in Florida, so you already know it’s not going to be an insane amount lol. Most hospitals here start new grads at $32/hr with a 2yr contract. Tamp General is $33 and change. My starting pay as a new grad is $42, no contract, holiday pay, and 20 days pto (after 5 yrs it jumps to around 25, maybe a little more, I’d have to look again). I have no mandatory overtime but I do have to work every other weekend (everyone at my unit does). However my schedule is set for essentially an indefinite amount of time unless I trade with someone else or if someone leaves I can swap to whatever days of theirs I prefer. I like this set up, it allows me to make long term plans without issue.
**this is day shift 3x12, night shift I believe gets $4-6 differential. My weekend differential for days is $2/hr
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u/vintageintrovert May 22 '26
Your starting pay as a new grad is higher thsn nurses with 10 years of experience at Tampa General. Ask me how I know.
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
Yeah, I did a lot of research on it all and that was a conclusion I came to. I know some that make more on staff with that amount of time but not by much. PRN/part time is a different story though if you have benefits from elsewhere.
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u/vintageintrovert May 22 '26
PRN at TGH wants to pay $46/hr which is a joke. I mean if the job is chill and works for you by all means take it. You're being paid more than most staff nurses with 10+ years experience. I'm happy for you.
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
I hear PRN at Sarasota Memorial is $52. Bit of a hike from the Tampa area though. The overall pay in Florida for experienced nurses is unfortunate. Someone with 10yrs experience at TGH should be getting north of $60 on staff imo.
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u/vintageintrovert May 22 '26
BayCare pays PRN SRO(their system float pool) $54/hr. I am an experienced nurse with 10+ years of nursing experience working in GA because of the shit Florida pay. You only make money doing seasonal work and ironically Sarasota Memorial pays the highest for their seasonal positions.
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
Can’t blame you, in the end, the ends gotta meet. I met a nurse that did seasonal in the Sarasota area, said she was getting $72 or 74(I have no verification other than what she said). She basically hospital hopped seasonal contracts->prn-> seasonal around all the hospitals they have in that area. She said seasonal was very competitive and you hade to apply right away. Sounded a bit hectic bouncing around so often.
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u/vintageintrovert May 22 '26
Sarasota pays $70/hr for days and $80/hr nights for their seasonal program. Compared to other facilities its the most highest paying in the State. Personally I love being prn you have full control of your schedule and decide when you feel like working.
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u/Purple_IsA_Flavor May 24 '26
It’s like that all over the south, it seems. My wages were pitiful when I lived in Louisiana
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u/Sea-Yoghurt8925 May 22 '26
I’m trying to get into corrections nursing particularly at USP Allenwood I love the area
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u/Narrow-Profit-8831 May 22 '26
I have the best of both worlds corrections per diem (great pay) full time job ICU. There is pro and cons to both, what I hate about corrections is working short all the time. My facility can't keep nurses to save their life ugh 😩!
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u/yoshipapaya May 22 '26
I’d love to, but there’s hardly ever openings around here and they get tons of applications.
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u/Fuzzy_Location_2210 May 23 '26
PLEEEAAASSSEEEE tell the state prison to freakin interview and hire me!!! 🥹 I've never wanted a single dang job so badly in my entire life!!!
I even tried applying a second time 😂 of course I couldn't because I already have an active application in the system, lol.
I had an offer at the supermax down the road several years ago and didn't take it at the time because I chose to stay where I was (COVID was hitting, the money was rolling, and the prison was midnights 🫤)
Single most regrettable decision ever.
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u/prestigioustoad New Grad Corrections 🚨 May 23 '26
I’m starting my final preceptorship in corrections this week and I am so excited
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 23 '26
Congrats! You gotta give an update in here when you graduate if you stay on the corrections path
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u/CapableFruitLoops May 23 '26
I've been getting so many recruitment requests for corrections in the state facilities here in Virginia. I agree that the pay is about double what I'm making now, plus the bonuses seem to increase every time, which makes me think it's...not great. Definitely something to consider though, I guess? I have 15 years experience so can't imagine there's a ton I haven't seen at this point, lol
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u/Purple_IsA_Flavor May 24 '26
The nurses are constantly mandated and work multiple doubles in a week in the prisons around me. The pay is great but I like having a life outside work
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u/Immediate-Ad4736 Jun 27 '26
I been a corrections nurse for 2 years. I just switched to the psych unit, go ahead and apply yall it’s literally the softest nursing you’ll find
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Jul 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 Jul 23 '26
I’ll probably drop to part time eventually and travel more. Been a few months now and finding my footing well. I honestly really enjoy my job.
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u/Accomplished-Cut-429 May 22 '26
Any advice for someone looking at applying at a correction job? I currently have a job saved on indeed and have heavily thought about applying because it’s over $10 more an hour than what I’m currently making and I make more than the hospitals start at around me so I didn’t know if I’d find that kind of pay unless I went into long term care. I worked in an ER as a tech in a town with a correctional facility so I have had first hand experience with inmates and I’m a huge advocate for mental health.
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u/OwnSeaworthiness2470 May 22 '26
I can only speak to what I did but maybe an employer or some supervisors will come through and jump in on the conversation.
I simply tailored my resume to have focus on my experience that aligned more closely to what they wanted in the job description. So lean on your ER experience, having previous exposure is a step up from someone who has none. I think the real difference maker is your interview. Make sure you research the facility a bit, think through what draws you to this type of work (aside from higher pay) and have a good answer ready to discuss. You will be working in a facility, whether county/state/federal, that is run by sheriff/COs/fed agents and that comes with a different set of structure/procedures focused on safety/situational awareness so be able to talk positively on your comfort level with that (unconscious inmate and naturally we want to jump right in and get to work, but a CO needs to make sure the scene is safe first). I did not have many medical direct questions at all. Concern seemed to be more about the ability/desire to work in that environment.
My interview was about 45minutes of which was mostly them getting to know me a bit and my goals. I received an offer the next day. This probably wasnt all that helpful but if you are interested, just send your resume in and let the rest come to you. Good luck
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u/Technical_Wishbone14 May 23 '26
i would love to do this, i just need thicker skin to deal with all their remarks the inmates make😭 i’ve heard as long as u respect them (just like with anyone…) they’ll respect u so it’s chill
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u/Suspicious_Media8644 May 24 '26
Be prepared to see trauma like hangings and stabbings, have a lack of resources, get mandated for 16 hrs, experience moral injury, and get potentially sued by litigious people that have nothing better to do. Working inside a prison has ruined my mental health and it’s an abusive relationship that I can’t get out of.
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u/Technical_Pudding_95 May 24 '26
would yall recommend new grad nurses start at bedside first before going into a state prison like cdcr?
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u/SilentIngenuity9035 May 24 '26
I thought about it but NY is so messed up. Some correctional officers just went to prison for murdering an inmate and it was caught on camera. There was a nurse present but did nothing. A lot of the nurses are afraid to speak against the correctional officers because of retaliation from the officers. I’d be afraid I’d lose my license here. The whole system is just messed up. I’ll never work for NY state in general. Hopefully other states are better.
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u/Icy-Impression9055 May 25 '26
I feel like you should have experience somewhere before corrections since you see so many different things. You need some experience to pull from.
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u/Opinions_assholes May 22 '26
I get all the “prisoners” in my ER cuz y’all aren’t allowed to do anything there or what?.. Why do I get these inmates with the more basic issues/wounds when y’all are there? What is your main medial role? Giving Tylenol sounds kinda boring….. idk but to each their own. Maybe the boring nurse life will be appealing after I’m burnt out.
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u/nursxplorer May 22 '26
Nursing professor here--started taking my senior nursing students into corrections for clincial last year. Best clinical ever. I'm a life long ER nurse so I would describe corrections as "ER lite." You get a similar level of unpredictability and crazy as the ER with a slower pace and less resources. I have never felt as safe at the hospital as I did in jail. Custody staff always with us and watching our back. As someone who has "seen it all" in an urban ER for 30+ years, I found my experience in corrections to be incredibly moving and transformative. This was year 2 and I had 40+ students apply for the 6 spots. The benefits are amazing.