REGISTERED NURSE

Registered Nurse

Under the general supervision of the Director of Nursing and Assistant Director of Nursing, the Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible and accountable for coordinating the activities and providing clinical expertise for the care of an assigned patient load, utilizing the Standards of Care of Nursing Practice. The position provides comprehensive nursing care for a diverse patient population in a fast-paced, correctional healthcare setting utilizing evidence-based nursing practice, critical thinking, and sound clinical judgment. Working collaboratively with medical and mental health providers, advanced practice providers, mental health professionals, correctional staff, and fellow nurses, the RN delivers high-quality patient care while promoting safety, professionalism, and compassionate treatment of all inmate-patients.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide care in emergency nursing, chronic disease management, mental health, substance abuse, infectious disease, wound care, medical intake, and urgent/emergent responses while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, standards, departmental policies, and accepted nursing practice.
• Perform comprehensive nursing assessments
• Performs nursing triage for sick call requests, recognizes deteriorating patient conditions, prioritizes patient needs based on clinical assessment, and initiates appropriate interventions or referrals in accordance with established protocols. Promptly communicates significant findings to the appropriate healthcare provider and correctional staff.
• Provides ongoing assessment, monitoring, and observation of inmate-patients identified as medically, psychiatrically, or behaviorally at risk.
• Collaborate with medical and mental health providers regarding treatment plans and changes in patient condition.
• Administer emergency psychotropic medications with post injection monitoring when indicated.
• Perform emergency cardiac response including CPR and AED use
• Participate in Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) medication management
• Provide basic and advanced nursing care and treatments, including obtaining vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respirations, pulse oximetry), performing blood glucose testing, obtaining 12-lead electrocardiograms (EKGs), initiating intravenous (IV) therapy, performing urinary catheterizations, providing wound and pressure injury care, and other nursing interventions within the RN scope of practice as directed by provider orders and established clinical protocols.
• Provides for the emotional, physical, and psychological well-being and safety of inmate-patients; assists with activities of daily living when clinically indicated, with attention to maintaining patient dignity, promoting therapeutic outcomes, and maximizing functional independence.
• Provides patient education and counseling regarding disease processes, health promotion, wellness, prescribed medications, medication compliance, treatment plans, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, pre- and post-procedure care, infection prevention, safety precautions, use of medical equipment, chronic disease management, and continuity of care. Assesses the inmate-patient's understanding of educational materials and documents education provided in the electronic medical record.
• Responds promptly and effectively to medical emergencies by performing rapid patient assessments, initiating appropriate nursing interventions, administering emergency treatments within the RN scope of practice, and coordinating care with healthcare providers, EMS, and correctional staff. Maintains the readiness of emergency equipment, supplies, and medications by conducting routine inspections, ensuring appropriate inventory levels, and reporting deficiencies in accordance with departmental policy.
• Manages the medication-use process by reviewing and implementing provider orders; ordering, receiving, verifying, administering, monitoring, reconciling, renewing, discontinuing, and documenting medications in accordance with provider orders, established clinical protocols, and applicable laws and regulations
• Utilizes problem oriented medical record (SOAP format) to document all inmate contacts; maintains confidentiality of all inmate healthcare interactions
• Collects, labels, processes, and ensures the proper handling of laboratory specimens, including blood, urine, sputum, stool, wound, and other specimens as ordered. Performs phlebotomy, point-of-care testing, and other CLIA-waived laboratory procedures within the RN scope of practice; ensures specimen integrity, accurate documentation, and timely transport to the appropriate laboratory. Reviews and communicates critical laboratory results to the provider, initiates appropriate nursing interventions as indicated, and documents all specimen collection, testing, and follow-up in the electronic medical record.
• Communicates pertinent medical information, special healthcare needs, activity restrictions, emergency medical conditions, and other clinically necessary information to correctional staff to promote the safety and security of inmate-patients, staff, and the facility. Maintains patient confidentiality and shares protected health information only as permitted by applicable laws, regulations, and departmental policy.
• Assume leadership responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Nursing and or Assistant Director of Nursing in his/her absences.
• Applies critical thinking and sound clinical judgment to assess, prioritize, and manage multiple patient care needs in a secure correctional environment.
• Attends educational classes as required by the license as well as accreditation standards
• Maintains complete, accurate, and objective electronic medical records by documenting patient assessments, interventions, medication administration, responses to treatment, provider notifications, and significant clinical events in accordance with correctional healthcare standards, departmental policy, and applicable legal and accreditation requirements.
• Dependable attendance and punctuality, recognizing that consistent staffing is essential to maintaining patient care, institutional safety, and uninterrupted healthcare operations within a 24-hour correctional facility.

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

Education:

• Associate of Science in Nursing Degree
• Currently licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of Texas
• Current BLS/CPR Certification

Skills ~ Experience:

• Current and valid Texas driver's license and a safe driving record
• Knowledge of current federal and state laws and regulations that apply to the practice of nursing in a correctional setting or comparable clinical environment
• Ability to competently perform the following services: crisis intervention, medical emergencies, physical assessment, medical nursing care, and psychiatric nursing care
• Expertise in making assessment/diagnoses and appropriate follow-through care and treatment, good decision making, organizational and time management skills
• Ability to follow organizational procedures, policies, practices, rules and regulations governing activities of the administrative functions and their interpretations
• General knowledge of basic hardware and software and uses of a variety of different computer operating systems such as Microsoft Office Work, Excel, Outlook
• Exceptional skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with County staff, inmates, police departments and the public-
• Working knowledge of medications, drugs, and narcotics and their effects
• Replace with ability to maintain professionalism and composure while working within a secure correctional healthcare environment.
• Maintain appropriate, unrestricted credentials according to the licensure, certification, and registration requirements of the jurisdiction
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions

Preferred:

• 1-year experience in a correctional setting or comparable clinical environment such as public health, urgent care, acute care, or long-term rehabilitation setting.
• Knowledge and experience in correctional healthcare operations to include NCCHC, ACA, and FMJS accreditation standards.

Disclaimer: McLennan County will conduct background checks on new hires that will include a criminal background check related to convictions and deferred adjudications in the past seven years and may include credit reports, motor vehicle records, employment records, and educational attainment. A conviction or deferred adjudication is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered individually.

Disqualifiers:

• Undesirable character or reputation
• A felony conviction or felony deferred adjudication against the laws of this state, another state, or the United States
• Conviction including court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of Class B Misdemeanor, or a Class B Misdemeanor within the last ten (10) years
• Arrested for DWI or DUI in the past ten (10) years
• Currently under indictment for any criminal offense
• Sold or manufactured any illegal drugs
• Conviction, guilty plea, or probation for any family violence offense
• Discharge from any military service under less than honorable conditions, or any other characterizations of service indicating bad character

All Employees:

• Must be committed to achieving excellence in assigned duties, always in service of the county and community
• Must have ability to earn and keep the trust of fellow employees and the community at large