SENIOR LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE

Senior Licensed Practical Nurse

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida's social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. Northeast Florida State Hospital (NEFSH) is a 613-bed, licensed mental health treatment facility that provides person-centered services to adults suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. The hospital, located in Macclenny, was established in 1959 and is the largest state operated civil treatment facility.

Northeast Florida State Hospital is a tobacco free facility. To be considered for this position responses to the qualifying questions are required and must be verifiable based on your submitted application. Multiple vacancies.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Senior Licensed Practical Nurse within Nursing Services. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Provides nursing care and treatment efficiency for mentally and physically ill residents in accordance with established nursing techniques and procedures in a state mental hospital.
• Demonstrates an understanding of medical asepsis and practices principles of infection control.
• Practices preventive nursing care by monitoring and/or providing for hydration, potential skin breakdown and impactions.
• Assists Registered Nurse in ordering, preparing and administering prescribed medications.
• Assists in ordering and maintaining supplies from Central Sterile Supply, being always mindful of reducing costs.
• Maintains compliance with established standards and policies and procedures including wearing Safe-T-Lift belt when doing any type of lifting.
• Records and reports significant events, residents physical and mental illness and behavior.
• Charts all medications, treatments and physical or mental conditions.
• Encourages good nutritional habits and sees that residents maintain adequate hydration and nutrition.
• Provides for resident safety by observing and reporting resident behavior and reaction to medications.
• Maintains knowledge of side effects of medications, ensuring good customer service.
• Makes rounds with physicians and performs appropriate nursing treatment as directed by physician orders.
• Assists with physical exams, increasing the number of residents served.
• Maintains professional accountability by knowing policies, procedures, and standards pertaining to resident.
• Responsible for own growth, development and refining of knowledge in both nursing and mental health fields by participating in inservice programs, continuing education, and attendance at nurses meetings.
• Maintains current Practical Nurse license and arranges with the Nurse Supervisor and Staff Development and Training Department for training in safety, CPR, First Aid, Infection Control, remedial training, etc.
• Performs related duties as requested.

Essential functions of this position include the ability to correctly pass medications, good nursing assessment skills, good documentation skills, good communication skills, recognition of medications and their effectiveness, ability to work well with others, ability to ambulate the campus, maintenance of licensure and all required CEUs. This also includes any and all nursing functions which may or may not be listed above that naturally fall under the purview of a practical nurse and are a requirement for licensure.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of nursing principles and techniques.
• Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.
• Skill in the use of medical equipment and instruments used in providing nursing care.
• Ability to demonstrate manual dexterity in providing nursing care.
• Ability to administer medications and treatments.
• Ability to work with patients.
• Ability to interpret and follow medical instructions.
• Ability to observe patients' symptoms and reactions to treatment.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum qualifications: Licensure as a practical nurse in accordance with Florida Statute 464 or eligible to practice nursing in accordance with Florida Administrative Code 210-8.22 or 8.27 and one year of experience in providing practical nursing services.

Candidate profile (application) requirements: Candidate profile (application) must be complete in its entirety. Work history - entered with the most recent/current listed first: Any and all State of Florida jobs Any and all Florida University jobs All periods of employment Periods of unemployment Gaps 3 months or more* Education Volunteer experience Include supervisor names and phone numbers including current place of employment. * Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps. Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications. If claiming Right to First Interview, candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions.

Benefits of working for the State of Florida: Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits. For a more complete list of benefits, visit

DCF employment disclosures: US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired. SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. For more information, please visit the SSS website: RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement. BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency. Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center View phone number on click.appcast.io). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. VETERANS' PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans' Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.

Location: Macclenny, FL, US, 32063