Registered Nurse I - Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan - Adolescent Unit

Job Title

Nursing Leadership and Direction for Psychiatric Care

Job Description

This position provides nursing leadership and direction for staff and provides therapeutic work in the psychiatric care of mentally ill patients hospitalized at the Colorado Mental Health Hospital at Fort Logan (CMHHIFL). Primary responsibilities are applications of knowledge, expertise, and experience in providing safe and effective nursing care to patients. Duties in this position include:

• Assesses plans, coordinates, provides, and evaluates nursing care of patients with psychiatric and medical conditions, documenting all pertinent data
• Utilizes nursing theory and concepts to develop nursing plans of care and therapeutic interventions to support patients' recovery, such as individual counseling, psychoeducational and teaching groups, and milieu management
• Communicates the nursing plan of care to the interdisciplinary team
• Assures that appropriate documentation is completed and that essential information is shared from shift to shift and makes rounds to assess patients' psychiatric and medical statuses
• Notifies medical staff (physicians and licensed independent practitioners) of changes in patient condition and need for evaluations and orders
• Reports patient care concerns to supervisor and physicians, as indicated
• Directs, coordinates, and implements medical and psychiatric crisis intervention in clinical emergencies assuring compliance with nursing standards and policies/procedures (e.g., de-escalation, seclusion/restraint, cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
• May escort patients to activities and appointments on grounds and in the community, including driving patients to appointments
• Assumes responsibility for paperwork, assuring confidentiality
• Determines whether the needs of a patient returning from a general hospital can be safely met by the nursing staff in terms of staff competency, appropriate equipment, and level of staffing during own shift and proximal shifts
• Collaborates with Nurse Manager and treatment team, recommends a change in program scheduling to benefit patients

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:

Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience: Current, valid licensure as a Registered Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing or any state participating in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).

No Substitutions

Special Qualifications:

• Due to the juvenile population served at the MHI facilities, incumbents of this position must be at least 21 years of age.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to understand and apply the nursing process to provide adequate patient care.
• Demonstrated ability to understand treatment plans and provide appropriate interventions.
• Demonstrated ability to direct the shift through training, mentorship, and development.
• A strong work ethic based on a foundation of self-motivation, loyalty, honesty, and integrity.
• Dependable, responsible, and adaptable.
• 1+ years experience in inpatient adolescent psychiatric care.

Essential Attributes:

• Full Background check and reference check required
• Shift Work may work days, evenings, or nights
• Essential Services Designation Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted CO Driver's License
• Must be at least 21 years of age or older
• May be exposed to bodily fluids or caustic chemicals
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination, or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Supplemental Information

How to apply to the State of Colorado

The Assessment Process

About Us & Benefits:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
• Employee Wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Our Values:

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families, and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness, and access in every decision, policy, and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.
• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health, and wellness, and employee engagement.
• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations:

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment.

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to View email address on click.appcast.io.

EEO Statement:

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to increasing a "Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a "Colorado for ALL" drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Support For Your Application:

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at View phone number on click.appcast.io Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.