Nurse, Children's Crisis

Job Description

Job Description

At Jefferson Center, it is our policy and our mission to be inclusive and mindful of the diversity of everyone who comes through our doors. We are passionate about building a community where mental health matters and equitable care is accessible to all races, ethnicities, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, religions, cultures, and languages.

The Children's Crisis Stabilization Nurse will provide psychiatric nursing services and medication monitoring to children/youth who are in the Crisis Stabilization Unit at Jefferson Center for Mental Health. This position will work three (12 hour) shifts - Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 7:00am to 7:00pm . In this role, you will provide oversight of all medication processes and administer medications to patients. Collaborate with the Medical Director and Prescriber in all phases of medication management, including assessing for side effects, and follow-up as needed. Identify potential physical problems and possible solutions impacting the health of children/youth in the Crisis Stabilization Unit. Provide group and individual education to children/youth and their families regarding physical and psychiatric diagnoses and treatment.

Jefferson Center's Children's Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) has a mission to use an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, residential counselors, medical staff and admissions specialists to provide brief, 3-5 day, crisis stabilization treatment for children and youth ages 5 to 18.5 with behavioral health issues, including depression, suicidal thoughts, other trauma reactions, and family issues. Our team coordinates treatment and provides tools and safety planning for children/youth and families so that they can safely return to their homes and the community. We are committed to serving Colorado’s children/youth while maintaining a non-judgmental and inclusive approach.

Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required:

• RN (BSN preferred) or LPN with two or more years of experience and/or training in a behavioral health setting.
• Two or more years’ experience working with children/youth and families preferred.
• Candidate must have a good understanding of various medical conditions including emergent and nonemergent conditions, especially those conditions pertaining to behavioral health patients.
• Candidate must have a basic understanding of using a trauma informed approach with patients including positive bed side manner.
• Applicant must have basic computer skills such as e-mail, electronic health record documentation, electronic prescribing, and electronic laboratory interface.
• Current and maintained BLS and First Aid Certification.
• Acquires and maintains certification in Nonviolent Crisis Prevention and Intervention Training (CPI)
• Maintain a working knowledge of commonly prescribed psychiatric medications including but not limited to interactions, side effects, contraindications, and therapeutic range of lab values.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) competency preferred

Essential Duties:

• In collaboration with Medical Director, Prescriber, and admissions coordinator, determine appropriateness of admission for patients based on assessment and reported pre-existing/current medical conditions.
• Works collaboratively with Medical Director and treatment team to complete needs assessment with all patients on the day of admission, throughout treatment and at discharge. Use EHR to document medical and psychiatric findings and establish plan of care to be assessed on an ongoing basis (RN only).
• Perform physical exams for every patient upon admission.
• Coordinate psychiatric exams, if applicable, within 24 hours of admission
• Implement prescriber orders, either written or verbal.
• Administer medications to patients and ensure Medication Administration Records (MAR) are updated to reflect medication changes.
• Coordinate prescription refills.
• Assist treatment team in discharge planning.
• Order and review labs as requested by the Prescriber.
• Assess clients for medication efficacy and/or side effects.
• Provide medication education/medication groups for patients.
• Coordinate medication concerns with Prescriber.
• Assist with milieu management, as needed.
• Develop therapeutic alliance with clients and work effectively and with cultural competence with clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Order, stock and reconcile the medication cabinets and order OTC medications and medical supplies.
• Ensure compliance with the Health Department, OBH, Signal and OSHA regulations.
• Complete and submit Medication Occurrence Reports on all medication errors.
• Perform routine medical procedures (blood pressure, pulse oximetry, temperature, urine drug testing, urine pregnancy testing, finger stick glucose testing, etc.).
• Collaborate with the Jefferson Center nursing team and other center teams, as needed.
• Identify risk factors for suicide, homicide and/or grave disability and communicate to licensed staff member, if 27-65 involuntary mental health hold is warranted.
• Interacts with clients to provide guidance, safety, stability, and direction including de-escalating potentially dangerous situations.
• Work collaboratively with others to innovate and problem solve – especially within your field of expertise.

Perform:

• EHR documented history, physical and mental assessments, including a plan of care for patients on the day of admission and as needed throughout their treatment episode
• Individual patient and group education regarding basic medical information
• Medication documentation and administration
• Assistance for the milieu staff to evaluate a patient’s medical needs
• Emergency Procedures: CPR, First Aid, Narcan, Epi Pen, AED Use
• Evaluations to determine emergent or urgent acute patient needs, including, but not limited to, a(an):
  1. Life-threatening event
  2. Acute suicidal or homicidal event
  3. Acute psychiatric episode
  4. Acute withdrawal syndrome

Coordinate:

1. Primary Care appointments and follow-ups, as needed
2. Prescription Refills, including verbal orders from the Medical Director
3. Communication of medication side effects or problems with prescribing provider
4. All aspects of patient care with the treatment team

Medication Management Oversight including:

1. Daily audit (during scheduled workdays)
2. Implementing and adhering to all Medication Protocols
3. Monitoring medication quantities and refills, including disposal of discontinued medications per the program’s Dead Med Procedure
4. OTC administration, reconciliation, and accounting
5. MAR maintenance and updates
6. Allergy documentation
7. Submission and review of medication occurrence reports
8. Assessing patients for medication efficacy and/or side effects
9. Training for QMAP staff

Communicate:

1. Directly with patients to help explain and support the emotional and psychical aspects of their care and treatment
2. Effectively with patients using respectful bedside manner
3. Directly with patients to determine acute need for medical support
4. Using de-escalation techniques
5. Directly with the Program Coordinator and Program Manager in collaboration for co-supervision with the Nursing Manager and the Medical Director regarding patient care

Other Duties (Productivity Performance Measures, Professional Growth/Development, Relationships/Communication):

• Attend mandatory in-services and comply with individualized training plan for your role, as applicable.
• Participate in supervision by coming prepared with an agenda. Report high risk/problem cases and utilize a problem-solving approach as well as feedback provided during supervision.
• Meet with supervisor at specified intervals and times. Communicating directly with the Program Coordinator and Program Manager in collaboration for co-supervision with the Nursing Manager and the Medical Director regarding patient care
• Attend nursing meetings as scheduled.
• Work with patients to coordinate internal and external medical and psychiatric care.
• Exhibit enthusiasm, courtesy, adaptability, flexibility, in the work environment.
• Maintain cooperative and respectful relationships with patients, staff, and community partners.
• Effective and timely responses to patient requests, needs and issues.
• Timely responses (within 24 working hours unless indicated as urgent) to phone calls, e-mails, and other requests
• Volunteer to work on Center wide committees and/or task forces as requested by your leadership team.
• This role may require cross functional responsibilities and contingency support including but not limited to:

• Adaptability to staffing needs: In the event of a staffing crisis or emergency, the employee may need to be deployed to another unit / team, whether working with adults or youth, within Jefferson Center for which they are qualified and credentialed, as determined by leadership.
• Skill Utilization: Staff may be assigned to support different teams or departments to address client needs while remaining within the scope of their professional licensure and credentialing.

Note: Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.

Salary Range (LPN) : $57,200 to $61,360* ($27.50/hr - $29.50/hr)

Salary Range (RN) : $74,030 to $94,270*

HIRING BONUS: $2,500 one-month anniversary, $2,500 6-month anniversary, $2,500 1-year anniversary ($7,500 total)

Additional Salary & Bonus Information*:

• The salary range above includes a 10% differential for working with youth in a 24/7 residential setting.
• The salary range above is based on 1.0 FTE (full time equivalent) or 40 hours per week. Less than 40 hours/week will be prorated and adjusted to the appropriate FTE.*
• Based on full time (40 hours/week). Prorate if less than 40 hours/week*
• Must work a minimum of 20 hours/week to be eligible for bonus*
• Current Jefferson Center employees not eligible for sign on bonus*
• Bonuses are not earned unless and until continuous employment reaches the bonus effective date*

Application Deadline : This position will remain posted until filled. We encourage applicants to apply by 7/24/2026 for priority consideration.