Institution Registered Nurse (Pendleton)

State of Oregon; Salem (OR); On-site; USD 94,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Vacation leave

Sick leave

Holidays

Job summary

The Oregon Department of Corrections is seeking an Institution Registered Nurse for Pendleton, Oregon. This on-site role provides direct nursing care within the correctional medical unit, addressing a range of patient needs and ensuring continuity of care in a secure setting.

Qualified candidates will hold a current Oregon RN license with preference for an unencumbered status and may be asked to train in specialized areas.

Qualifications

• Possess a valid Oregon Registered Professional Nurse's License at the time of appointment.
• Preference given to candidates with an unencumbered license.
• Agency may require training or experience in a specialized area of nursing.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient nursing care per ODOC policies and orders.
• Coordinate on-site and community-based services for patients.
• Educate patients and staff; advocate for patient needs and timely care.
• Maintain accurate and complete patient records and documentation.
• Support unit operations and manage supplies and narcotics as needed.

Skills

Nursing license

Direct patient care

Coordination of care

Documentation

Communication

Infection control

Job description

Position Title

Institution Registered Nurse (Pendleton)

Initial Posting Date

08/11/2026

Application Deadline

08/31/2026

Agency

Department of Corrections

Salary Range

$8,443 - $11,932

Position Type

Employee

Job Description

Institution Registered Nurse (Pendleton)

Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution – Pendleton, Oregon

Oregon Department of Corrections

We’re hiring! We need dedicated professionals to provide on-site care within our secure correctional medical unit. Enjoy flexible scheduling, a manageable patient load, and see the continuity of care without the intrusive limits of outside medical billing. We are seeking nurses with a passion for utilizing all areas of their education. You will be treating sickness, running lines, vaccinations, diabetic care, daily ailments, post-op care, and end-of-life. This is a rewarding role for those who value working with great physicians, professional autonomy, and making a real difference.

Working in Pendleton, Oregon, provides a unique blend of a low cost of living (9% below the national average), a great rural small city, and puts you in the heart of beautiful outdoor activities like hiking and skiing.

What’s in it for you?

DOC employee benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic employee life coverage through the Public Employees' Benefit Board (PEBB) and retirement benefits through the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Paid vacation leave and sick leave are accrued monthly and wage increases are awarded in accordance with the applicable labor contract.

Additional Applicable Incentives

• 5% for bilingual
• 4.75% for BSN
• 9.5% for MSN
• 5% for Lead Worker
• Swing shift - $3.92/hour
• Night shift - $5/hour
• Weekend shift - $5/hour

Benefits

The salary range listed above is for non-PERS qualifying applicants. PERS qualifying applicants may be eligible for an adjusted range to reflect an additional 6.95%.

The State of Oregon provides a generous benefit package, which includes:

• Family health, vision, and dental insurance
• Vacation, sick leave, and 11 paid holidays
• 21 days paid military leave for national guard and reserve components
• Optional short and long-term disability
• Term life insurance
• Fully paid retirement program
• Oregon Saving Growth Plan
• Flexible spending accounts for health and childcare
• And more

About The Job – Your Role

The Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) is seeking Registered Nurses with a passion for caring for marginalized and underserved incarcerated individuals.

The ODOC patient population is disproportionately affected by mental health needs, substance abuse needs, and many socioeconomic stressors and nursing staff are critical to the provision of evidence-based care to address these needs. We are seeking knowledgeable, motivated, empathetic, and passionate Registered Nurses to deliver patient centered health care services, comprehensive patient health education, and serve as a health care advocate for our patients.

Your primary responsibility will be to provide health care services to individuals living in ODOC correctional facilities. Primary tasks include:

• Direct Patient Care: The provision of nursing care includes patient assessment, nursing diagnosis, care planning, medication administration, laboratory/medical procedures, and treatment provision in accordance with ODOC policies, procedures, protocols, provider orders, and evidence-based standards of care.
• Coordination of Care: Coordinate patient's health care by scheduling services on-site and community-based services to ensure optimal patient health outcomes are achieved.
• Communication: Provide comprehensive patient education and serve as a resource for non-medical staff as it pertains to the provision of health care in the correctional setting. Advocate for patient care needs to ensure patient care needs are met in a timely manner and not adversely impacted by the correctional environment.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate, legible, and complete records of patient care. Document all requests for medical attention, objective data collected during patient care, treatment provided, evaluation of treatment effectiveness, and patient education provided.
• Administrative: Coordinate nursing care activities with services provided by other departments. Assume responsibility for the operations of the unit in the absence of management staff. Evaluate and monitor medical supplies to ensure appropriate supplies are available in sufficient quantities and that accurate accounting and secure storage of supplies, including narcotic, needle and syringe counts, is maintained.

This position is represented by American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). This position may be eligible for Police & Fire (P&F) benefits through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), as defined by statute.

Minimum Qualifications

Possess a valid Oregon Registered Professional Nurse's License at the time of appointment.

Preference given to candidates with an unencumbered license.

NOTE: At the time of recruitment, the agency may require training or experience in a specialized area of nursing.

Requested General Knowledge

• Professional principles, practices, and theory of nursing practice
• Laws, rules, and regulations governing the provision of nursing practice
• Medical terminology
• Pharmacology management
• Medical ethics
• Counseling and intervention techniques
• Disease processes and treatment methods
• Principles and procedures of infection control/communicable disease management
• Operating personal computers

Desired Attributes

• Excellent oral and written communication
• Social justice oriented
• Embraces teamwork with a positive mindset
• Health equity focused
• Ability to perform in a high stress environment
• Harm reduction advocate

Open Until Filled

This recruitment will remain open until filled. We may close the announcement at any time when we have received an adequate number of applications. We cannot guarantee we will consider all applications received. We encourage interested applicants not to delay in applying.

Working Conditions

• Requires working independently with little or no supervision.
• Must have the ability to work any or all of the seven days of the week, including but not limited to, Saturdays or Sundays or both; and work any shift of the day, including, but not limited to, swing, graveyard, or day.
• Requires contact with adults in custody, who may become violent, in a correctional setting.
• Requires mandatory double shifts occasionally.
• Requires walking or standing for long periods, climbing stairs and heavy lifting.
• May require limited exertion resulting from patient care.
• May be exposed to chemicals, radiation, communicable diseases, or other hazards inherent in a health care and correctional setting.
• May require occasional local or in-state travel for training or meetings.

About The Department

The Oregon Department of Corrections is responsible for over 12,000 adults in custody in 12 state prisons throughout Oregon. It advises and evaluates counties regarding administration of probation and parole programs supervising more than 24,000 offenders in Oregon communities. The mission is to protect communities, promote accountability, and transform lives.

The Oregon Department of Corrections serves a diverse and changing population of people who are incarcerated and on supervision. We commit to creating an organization both reflecting the diversity of the population we serve and ensuring all employees thrive in a culture of safety, trust, and belonging. We strive to be an anti-racist corrections system. Welcoming, inclusive, and respectful of all people. Free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

The Department offers a variety of programs and opportunity to create a safe and healthy environment to for our staff, volunteers, and adults in custody. Joining the Oregon Department of Corrections is joining a team working for the benefit of our communities through innovative and proven correctional practices.

About The Process – What To Expect

• After the application deadline, a recruiter will review submissions for education and experience to identify candidates who best fit the minimum qualifications and requested skills.
• Top candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
• The hiring manager will review your application and schedule interviews.
• Interview will be held with a panel of stakeholders who have completed panel assessment training. Scores will be determined based on predetermined questions and scoring guides. Preferences points will be applied in compliance with relevant laws and bargaining agreements. There may be multiple rounds of interviews.
• Final candidates will have a background check, PREA check, and reference checks.
• A Classification and Compensation analyst will review the Workday Application of the successful candidate to determine starting wages. Learn more about Equal Pay.
• A job offer will be extended through Workday to the successful candidate. Congratulations, and welcome to the team!

Requirements For Employment

The successful candidate for this position must pass a Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) fingerprint-based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility. Due to CJIS requirements related to system access, there may be some felony convictions that could disqualify you for this position. However, having a felony record does not exclusively restrict you from being considered as an applicant. CJIS clearance is done at the conditional job offer. If you have questions about whether or not your criminal record could disqualify for you, please contact the recruiter for more information.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDI&B)

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDI&B) is embedded in the Department of Corrections core values. The department strives to be a model employer committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Ensuring legal compliance, efficiency, and exceeding expectations to deliver the best public services.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. Additional information can be found from The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Know Your Rights.

The Oregon Department of Corrections is responsible for complying with the Federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA 42 U.S.C. 1997). PREA prohibits the Oregon Department of Corrections from hiring, promoting, or contracting with anyone, (that will have direct contact with residents), who has engaged in, been convicted of, or been civilly or administratively adjudicated for engaging in sexual abuse in confinement settings. Learn more about PREA.

Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility. Please note – if you are a veteran, you will receive a task in Workday to upload your documents immediately after you submit your initial application.

The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.

Questions

If you have questions about the position, selection process, or need accommodations to participate in the recruitment process please contact the recruiter and reference the requisition number.