Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered Nurse - Correctional Health

A licensed Registered Nurse who utilizes the nursing process to meet a variety of healthcare needs. Under the direction of a Nurse Supervisor Correctional Health, provide direct patient care and guidance to nursing staff under their license, in the provision of nursing care. Work cohesively with a variety of health care professionals and security officers in a correctional environment; and perform related duties as assigned.

Work Performed:

1. Participate in on-coming and off-going shift reports, ensure shift preparedness and communicate needs to maintain the ability to deliver safe and effective care during the shift and thereafter.
2. Provide direct and indirect nursing care to meet the psychological, psychosocial and emotional needs of inmates within the framework established by the correctional system; perform assessments of inmates in a variety of settings such as, intake and booking, health care unit for sick call, emergency in-housing, chronic care clinics and the medical unit; utilize assessment skills that require a knowledge base of both normal and abnormal adult and juvenile health status; and communicate assessment data in a comprehensive, orderly fashion both verbally and in writing.
3. Plan nursing care by identification of inmate needs based on assessments; make appropriate, timely referrals and initiate appropriate nursing care based on institutional policies and procedures; and document plans appropriately.
4. Implement nursing care and medical care orders in a knowledgeable, safe and cost-effective manner; document nursing care and appropriate medically directed care in accordance with policies and procedures; and provide inmate education as an integral part of total patient care.
5. Evaluate and document inmate responses to aspects of health care and make appropriate referrals to members of the health care team. Delegate duties to other health care team members based on their skill, knowledge and experience and guide the provision of care by others.
6. Utilize effective communication skills by demonstrating respect, concern and courtesy in all interpersonal relationships. Communicate information in an accurate, concise and timely manner, protect confidentiality, and participate in problem-solving activities of the health care team.
7. Use current knowledge to promote a safe environment for providing health care to inmates. Function as a role model for other health care unit personnel and maintain harmonious relationships with security, inmates and members of the health care team.
8. Maintain clinical area in a clean, neat and safe manner and participate in required counts and cleaning assignments; adhere to institutional and medical unit infection control policies; and understand and adhere to safe correctional nursing practices and institutional security directives.
9. Maintain current professional skills and continue professional growth to enhance the practice of correctional nursing and the image of the organization. Attend appropriate in-services. Participate in offering education to inmates, security officers and other members of the health care team. Exhibit an ability to participate in the change process to support the organization and the health care unit. Accept assignments and extra duties with flexibility and willingness to participate in activities other than direct patient care.
10. Perform necessary duties to maintain continuity of care when staffing needs dictate necessity.

Essential Functions:

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Completion of an accredited two-year program in nursing.

Experience: None

Certifications/Licensure: Must be licensed as a Registered Nurse by the State of Minnesota. Basic Life Support certification/Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibility & Work Environment:

Work Environment: Work is performed in a correctional facility. Stand and walk up to 8 hours daily, bend and stoop up to 2 hours daily and occasional lifting of 25 pounds or more while performing patient care and treatment duties, and occasional use of stairs. Exposures may include, but not limited to, environmental conditions, disagreeable odors, elevated noise levels, communicable diseases, toxic substances, bodily fluids, and working with people with behavioral and mental challenges. Work also involves daily pushing of medication cart(s) weighing up to 100 pounds. Work may be performed on day, evening and night shifts and on weekends and holidays.

Internal/External Relationships & Impact on Services/Operations:

Internal/External Relationships: Has daily contact with inmates while providing nursing care; and with corrections staff, nurse supervisor, physicians and other healthcare providers regarding patient care, condition, orders and to assist with various treatments and procedures. Daily to weekly contact with public health nurses and extended care facility personnel to facilitate discharge planning; with employees from other departments including x-ray, pharmacy, dietary, activities, social services, occupational, speech and physical therapy, laboratories, housekeeping, and maintenance to coordinate activities and procedures affecting patient care and treatment.

Impact on Services/Operations: Work performance impacts the quality of nursing care provided to inmates in the Ramsey County Correctional facilities and the Adult Detention Center. Proper performance can result in reduced need for hospitalization and other medical treatment; avoidance of requiring additional correctional staff time and resources needed when transporting off-site; and the associated related costs. Proper performance ensures that appropriate care is given to inmates including effective communicable disease screening and response, reducing the risk of the spread of communicable diseases in the facility. Poor performance can result in an increase in client health problems and harm to a patient. Poor performance can also result in wasted time and materials and their subsequent costs to the organization, increase of internal conflicts, and unnecessary medical or legal costs for the county.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

Knowledge of the principles and practices of nursing.

Knowledge of emergency procedures and medical intervention techniques.

Knowledge of drug compatibilities.

Knowledge of documentation procedures and requirements.

Skill in assessing and creating care plans for inmate's health care needs.

Skill in use of medical equipment such as blood pressure cuffs, scales, stethoscopes, accuchecks, otoscopes, suction catheters, needles, syringes and I.V. tubes.

Ability to supervise and instruct employees in basic and advance nursing care activities.

Ability to communicate complex written and oral directions.

Ability to maintain effective working relationships with clients and nursing staff.

Ability to analyze problems and recommend and carry out suggested solutions.

Ability to recognize subtle changes in patient's condition or body systems.

Ability to properly interpret laboratory results.

Ability to independently provide health care as ordered by attending physicians.

Ability to effectively handle stress in emergency situations.

Ability to recognize and effectively handle emergency and potentially life-threatening situations.

Ability to organize and present information to nursing staff.