[MagRedC5]

Originally Posted by wildhorse

HI,
I do live next to Fort Lewis, and I started out at Madigan as a new LPN. I was there 9 years, moved to the VA so that I could get my BSN. The VA staffing got very short and it was miserable. I graduated with my BSN and thought that I was going into Forensic nursing. However, what I have been doing for the past year and a half has not been Forensic nursing. I don't know quite what to call it. But the daily struggle is with the staff not the patients. I think that it is just time to go to another work area. I have talked with travel nurses in the past and they stated they liked not having to stay in one area very long. This way they passed up on the politics side of each job. Maybe this is a way to avoid the unpleasant politics of a job. I will check out Maxium nursing agency and see what McNeil Island has in vacancies. Thanks for the thoughts.

Wow, it is a small world! I live in Tumwater, next to OLY. My wife [also an RN] left ST Peter recently and starts at MAMC
tomorrow. After my next two weeks of night shift hopefully we will be on the same schedule and can ride to work together.

Good luck with your job search!

[hsieh]

wildhorse: lol
the staff of the state hospital have more mental illness than the patients. lol!!!!
i agree having worked in a psych hospital - how's the old saying go - the inmates are running the asylum.
as for correctional nursing - i really don't like murdereres, rapists, and pedophiles so i don't see much point in doing that. most phych hospitals have "satellite" places which are much nicer to work than the main hospital. and the staff at those places are much more sane.

[Sylvia321]

Wildhorse

I am a traveler since 1998 and yes, traveling has prevented me from becoming involved with the day-to-day politics. I've been lucky enough to have met some really terrific people in my travels and have seen many places.

I have not worked corrections. I have applied with the CA state corrections, as the judge appointed person has upped the pay and a State prison nurse will be starting at about $97000/yr (more in the bay area) I can work that for a few yrs socking away money to pay cash for a house (not in CA), but then again, I may find that I cannot do prison nuring at all and go back to traveling. The state pays better than the Federal prison in CA.

[hsieh]

here's something to think about regarding prison nursing. did you see the story in florida where guards beat a kid to death in a kid prison and they caught the nurse on tape just standing there? now she is being charged with a crime.

[wildhorse]

Hi,
Wow, that bothers me. That is why I have thrown this out for discussion. I have heard that the nurses that went to McNeil after working at the state hospital love it. But this is heresay....I already have worked with rapists and murders,etc. The anti-socials are the hardest as they don't care. The pay seems so much.... but even I could do enough months to pay off my bills, so that if I had to take a lower paying job then I could easily do it. I am single, so no husband to lean on. I am glad to hear someone say that the staff at the state hospital are sicker than the patients, especially since they are social works, phsychiatrists, etc.... It has been the absolute worst experience of my entire nursing job experience. I think that it is a hostile work environment and would NOT recommend it to any nurse. Anyone? How is it working at McNeil Island?

[hsieh]

what's mcneil island? a prison? what about agency nursing? they may send you to an understaffed nursing home but you would make top pay and you don't have to worry about the politics or going in the next day to the same understaffed mess. and you can't get mandated at an agency. my friend works prn at the psych hosp making 25 or more an hour - she tells them when she wants to work. she has what she calls "hit by a bus insurance". meaning she pays out of her own pocket the bare minimum private insurace in case something happens and she needs hospitalized. another option could be orthopedic clinic where they do surgery. no weekends or holidays.

[wildhorse]

McNeil Island is a prison...Staff have to take a boat to and from. An agency handles some of the staffing... the salaries are hight, But, I want to know more about the working conditions before committing.... Anyway, have an interview tommorow..

[MagRedC5]

Originally Posted by wildhorse

McNeil Island is a prison...Staff have to take a boat to and from. An agency handles some of the staffing... the salaries are hight, But, I want to know more about the working conditions before committing.... Anyway, have an interview tommorow..

Prison? Godd luck w/interview. Are sure you don't want to take Aikido?

[MagRedC5]

Originally Posted by wildhorse

McNeil Island is a prison...Staff have to take a boat to and from. An agency handles some of the staffing... the salaries are hight, But, I want to know more about the working conditions before committing.... Anyway, have an interview tommorow..

Prison? Good luck w/interview. Are sure you don't want to take Aikido?

[hsieh]

good luck.