Institution Registered Nurse (Madras)

Initial posting date: 10/22/2026 | Application deadline: 11/01/2026 | Agency: Department of Corrections | Position type: Employee

About the 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 at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution in Madras, Oregon. This role offers flexible scheduling, a manageable patient load, and continuity of care without the intrusive limits of outside medical billing. You will be treating sickness, running lines, vaccinations, diabetic care, daily ailments, post-op care, and end-of-life situations. Madras offers a strategic Central Oregon location with lower housing costs, a high-desert climate, and nearby hubs like Bend and Portland.

Responsibilities

• Direct Patient Care: Provision of nursing care including 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 they 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.

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

Pay

Salary range: $8,443 – $11,932 per month (for non-PERS qualifying applicants). PERS qualifying applicants may be eligible for an adjusted range reflecting an additional 6.95%.

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

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

Benefits

• 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
• Medical, dental, vision, and basic employee life coverage through the Public Employees' Benefit Board (PEBB)
• Retirement benefits through the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• Paid vacation leave and sick leave accrued monthly
• Wage increases awarded in accordance with the applicable labor contract

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 Saturdays and/or Sundays, and any shift (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 Department serves a diverse and changing population of people who are incarcerated and on supervision. It commits to creating an organization reflecting the diversity of the population served and ensuring all employees thrive in a culture of safety, trust, and belonging. The Department strives to be an anti-racist corrections system: welcoming, inclusive, and respectful of all people; free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. It offers a variety of programs and opportunities to create a safe and healthy environment for staff, volunteers, and adults in custody.

Hiring Process

1. After the application deadline, a recruiter reviews submissions for education and experience to identify candidates who best fit the minimum qualifications and requested skills.
2. Top candidates are referred to the hiring manager.
3. The hiring manager reviews applications and schedules interviews.
4. Interviews are held with a panel of stakeholders who have completed panel assessment training. Scores are determined based on predetermined questions and scoring guides.
5. Preference points are applied in compliance with relevant laws and bargaining agreements. There may be multiple rounds of interviews.
6. Final candidates undergo a background check, PREA check, and reference checks.
7. A Classification and Compensation analyst reviews the Workday Application of the successful candidate to determine starting wages.
8. A job offer is extended through Workday to the successful candidate.

Employment Requirements

The successful candidate must pass a Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) fingerprint-based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility. Due to CJIS requirements related to system access, some felony convictions could disqualify an applicant; however,