Institution Registered Nurse (Salem)
Oregon Department of Corrections
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The Oregon Department of Corrections is seeking an Institution Registered Nurse (Salem) to provide on-site care within a secure correctional facility medical unit. Flexible scheduling and a manageable patient load support continuity of care without billing or insurance pressures.
Ideal candidates will hold an Oregon RN license, demonstrate strong communication, empathy, and the ability to advocate for patients in a high-stress environment.
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
- Direct Patient Care: provide nursing care, assessments, care planning, medication administration, and procedures per ODOC policies.
- Coordination of Care: schedule on-site and community-based services for optimal outcomes.
- Communication: educate patients and act as resource for non-medical staff to ensure timely care.
- Documentation: maintain accurate records of patient care and requests for medical attention.
- Administrative: coordinate nursing care with other departments and manage unit operations.
Skills
Education
Job description
Oregon Department of Corrections We’re hiring! We need dedicated professionals to provide on-site care within our secure correctional facility medical units. Enjoy flexible scheduling, a manageable patient load, and the opportunity to truly follow the course of treatment without the pressures of billing or insurance. This is a rewarding role for those who value professional continuity of care and making a real difference.
08/26/2026
09/06/2026
Department of Corrections
$8,443 - $11,932
Employee
Institution Registered Nurse (Salem)
We’re hiring! We need dedicated professionals to provide on-site care within our secure correctional facility medical units. Enjoy flexible scheduling, a manageable patient load, and the opportunity to truly follow the course of treatment without the pressures of billing or insurance. This is a rewarding role for those who value continuity of care, professional autonomy, and making a real difference.
The Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) is seeking Registered Nurses with a passion for caring for marginalized and underserved incarcerated individuals.
Enjoy flexible scheduling, a manageable patient load, and the opportunity to truly follow the course of treatment without the pressures of billing or insurance. This is a rewarding role for those who value continuity of care, professional autonomy, and making a real difference.
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.
- 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.
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.
- 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
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.
- 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
- 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
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.
- 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.
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.
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%
- 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
- 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!
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.
- Workday will timeout after 15 minutes of inactivity. You may lose progress on your application.
- Workday performs weekly maintenance Friday evenings, and the system may be down for several hours.
- ODOC does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete an I-9 and confirm authorization to work in the United States.
- This applicant list may be used to fill future vacancies. Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.
- This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. The pay and benefits on all announcements may change without notice.
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.
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.
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