REGISTERED NURSE SPECIALIST

REGISTERED NURSE SPECIALIST - 60010207

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. The agency's mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency. 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. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders. Northeast Florida State Hospital (NEFSH) is an 800-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 AND SHIFTS AVAILABLE

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Registered Nurse Specialist within our Nursing Services Unit. 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:

• Administers medications, bloodwork, IVs and related procedures.
• Administers or provides adequate supervision for the administering of medication.
• Provides education on medications and treatments to individuals.
• Monitors or supervises non-licensed personnel in monitoring blood pressures, temperatures, pulses and respiration.
• Administers or supervises the administering of treatment orders for salves, bandages, enemas, urinalysis, preparation for x-rays and related procedures.
• Provides appropriate progress reports on residents.
• Assists the medical physician during sick calls, during physical examinations, as needed.
• Provides emergency nursing care and examination of injuries.
• Responsive and compliant with current residents' rights and advocacy issues; adheres to and complies with unit, hospital, and departmental policies and guidelines.
• Accepts written, oral and phone orders from physicians, psychiatrists or dentists, transcribes orders and initiates or carries out orders.
• Participates in the formulation of individualized residents' treatment plans.
• Admits and transfers residents to and from home unit or other hospital facilities; assures that appropriate documentation accompanies residents.
• If applicable, checks medication, orders, and labels for correctness on return from pharmacy.
• Performs nursing procedures as indicated.
• Participates in the hospital infection control program according to unit services and hospital infection policies.
• Participates in resident evaluations and in development of each resident's treatment and discharge plan with the treatment team.
• Preparation of nursing care assessments for designated residents.
• Serves as a resource person to train staff.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of nursing principles, practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.
• Ability to provide emergency nursing services.
• Ability to participate in the planning and implementing of treatment for patients.
• Ability to conduct individual and group therapy sessions.
• Ability to work with patients having a variety of physical or emotional problems.
• Ability to observe patients' reactions to medications.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to effectively interview and assess the health care of clients.
• Ability to analyze complex reports and determine the service utilization habits of clients and to evaluate the appropriateness of that utilization.

Minimum qualifications:

• Licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in accordance with Florida Statute 464 or eligible to practice nursing in accordance with Florida Administrative Code 210-8.27 and three years of professional nursing experience, including one year of professional experience in a specialty field as determined by the employing agency.
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in nursing or a related field can substitute for one year of the required general professional nursing experience.
• A master's degree from an accredited college or university in nursing, nursing education, public health, or a related field can substitute for two years of the required general professional nursing experience.

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*
• * 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.
• 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 21