DSHS DDA Registered Nurse 2 - RN

Registered Nurse 2

Bring your professional skill, sound judgment, and compassion to the Developmental Disabilities Administrations' State Operated Community Residential (SOCR) program. In this position, you'll care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the homes where they live. Your day might start with a sick call, move on to giving medications and checking vital signs, and end with a trip to a doctor's appointment alongside a resident. Every visit gives you a chance to get to know the people you care for and help them stay healthy at home.

This role gives you room to use your nursing skills and judgment. You'll plan your own day, build care plans that fit each person, and decide what care is needed. Along the way, you'll partner with doctors, pharmacies, and direct care staff who rely on your guidance to keep residents safe and well.

Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary. Some of what you'll do:

• Assess health needs of clients, provide nursing services, and create, carry out, and update individual care plans.
• Hold sick call and give medications and treatments as ordered.
• Request physician orders and call in pharmacy refills.
• Pass medications and provide treatments as ordered by physicians.
• Check vital signs and collect samples for lab tests.
• Keep accurate health records.
• Accompany clients to medical appointments.
• Involve clients and their families/advocates in care planning, and teach clients about their own health.
• Train direct care staff to support clients with complex health needs and prevent emergencies.
• Take part in treatment team meetings, quality improvement work, and program planning.

What we're looking for:

• Professionals with a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Washington State.
• Must have graduated from an accredited school of professional nursing and have one year of professional nursing experience or college level nursing education.

Additional knowledge, skills, and abilities we are looking for:

• Developmental disabilities and therapeutic care: Understands the health and behavior needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and uses positive, therapeutic approaches to support each client's safety and growth.
• Clinical judgment: Makes sound care decisions, oftentimes without a supervising nurse on site.
• Communication: Shares clear health information with residents, providers, staff, and families.
• Teamwork: Works closely and effectively with multi-disciplinary team members, as well as program leaders.
• Training: Guides staff on health care tasks.
• Crisis support: Stays calm and supports residents using approved methods.
• Organization: Plans the workday across several homes.

The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency's vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.