Registered Nurse III, RN III - Campus at Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center

Division Of Youth Services

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State. For pre-adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a State-funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system. In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State.

Summary Of Position

Provide direction and clinical supervision of all Nursing and Health Care Technician staff assigned to the unit. Delivers health care to detained and committed youth within the nurse's scope of practice. Primary care is provided by independent practitioners with responsibility for a continuum of care from the initial assessment through the development and maintenance of health care including physical, psychiatric, and dental maintenance.

Specific Job Duties

Clinical duties:

• Initial nursing assessments and triage of requests for health/medical care submitted by the youth. Reviews the admission medical information obtained by security staff at intake. Administers nursing care and provides youth education for routine, urgent, and emergent medical situations within the scope of practice. Obtains laboratory and other diagnostic procedures ordered by medical providers, reviews results, and notifies the provider of results when indicated. Initiate nursing/medical treatment plans for youth with special health care needs. Reviews and revises treatment plans as needed. Completes health appraisals, physical exams, vision/hearing screenings, in-house laboratory diagnostic testing (e.g. urine dipsticks, pregnancy tests, STI urine testing, PPD tests etc.), and immunizations per Division of Youth Services (DYS) policy. Documents all encounters with youth in the electronic medical records system and/or appropriate medical logs in an accurate and timely manner. Maintains confidentiality of all patient information (oral and written) according to federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. Initiates consultations/referrals to mid-level provider and/or appropriate physician when indicated. Responds to requests for emergent situations (Code Blue, Code Red) occurring on campus, administers CPR/First Aid, and initiates a 911 call if indicated. Delivers medications, and medical supplies and evaluates youth who may be confined to specific buildings or rooms throughout the campus setting. Other nursing duties as delegated/ordered by DYS physicians or mid-level providers.

Medication and treatment:

• Responsible for the ordering and preparation of youth's medications for administration within the facility. Transcription and procurement of psychiatrist, physician, and/or mid-level provider medication orders. Maintains accuracy of individual Medication Administration Records through reviewing and updating on a continuous basis. Educates youth and staff about medications, side effects, desired effects, and the importance of compliance with prescribed medications. Investigates and documented interviews with youth refusing prescribed medications and initiate interventions. Maintains inventory logs of medications arriving at the facility for youth, preparing them for administration by medical and QMAP staff and delivering them.
• Transcribes, orders, prepares, and administers medications including intramuscular medications per prescribed providers' orders. Updates Medication Administration Record (MAR). Monitors MARs for errors and reports errors to medical clinic supervisor and facility administration. Assists in ordering and maintaining stock supplies, medications, and equipment within the campus clinics. Monitors inventory and restocks medications and supplies in campus clinics and living units. Checks campus First Aid Kits, AEDs, pharmaceutical refrigerators, and other equipment on a continuing basis to maintain adequate functioning of the medical department and provision of health care for youth. Documents administration of youth medications and behavioral contacts in electronic medical record database. Assess vaccine status and administers needed vaccines per CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and provider recommendation. Follows Vaccine for Children's Program protocols for immunization administration and safe storage and handling

Clinical supervision:

• Accountable for the work of nursing staff, health care technicians, nursing students, orientees, and others through delegation of work assignments, ensuring timely completion of work, providing clinical leadership, and teaching clinical interventions. Provides clinical and administrative supervision of nursing staff on duty. Acts as a liaison between nursing staff and providers/administration. Coordinates daily tasks and assigns specific duties to staff to ensure all tasks are completed. Ensures that interventions are implemented, that the care provided meets or exceeds community and professional standards and appropriate documentation is completed. Ensures that essential information is shared from shift to shift. Promptly notifies nursing staff of changes to processes, policies, and procedures through communication methods including meetings, email, and individual contact. Provides individual coaching sessions regularly with the nursing staff. Orients new staff and serves as a preceptor for students. Ensure monthly monitoring of the compliance review standards and the maintenance of the NCCHC folders to ensure a continual state of readiness and compliance. Provides ongoing supervision of the assessment and diagnostic skills of the medical clinic staff through regular observation of their practice and review of the documentation in electronic health record. Supervises clinic staff on proper documentation, to include but not limited to histories, exams, diagnoses, and treatment in the medical record. Completes and reviews staff documentation on daily medical documents pertinent to the medical department. Supervises clinic staff on safe and legal protocols to prepare and administer medication without error. Supervision of medical clinic staff to include hiring of new staff, disciplining or terminating employees as indicated, ongoing staff performance feedback, through coaching and mentoring, completion of PMAP's, and accountability for timekeeping-through KRONOS system. Facilitates resolution of interpersonal conflicts, investigates and problem solves internal and external complaints and grievances from staff, youth, family, and other customers. Scheduling of clinic staff based on the needs of the clinic and the facility. Approves or denies individual leave. Point of contact for the local schools for RN, NP or PA students. Facilitates regular staff meetings.

Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions Of Employment & Appeal Rights

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed below to continue in the selection process for this position.

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)
• AND three (3) years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position

Substitutions:

• Appropriate education will substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience on a year-for-year basis

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with adolescent health care.
• Experience with mental health nursing
• Experience with correctional nursing
• Relatable experience as a current or previous State of Colorado employee.

Highly desirable competencies:

• Knowledge of current medications, administration, their actions and use.
• Ability to work in collaborative relationships with other professionals to achieve interdisciplinary goals set for the client.
• Ability to assess and coordinate community health care services to meet the needs of clients and their families.
• Ability to collect, record, and interpret data concisely and accurately.
• Ability to self-regulate emotions when provoked or when working under conditions of stress

Conditions of employment:

• Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence
• Full Background. CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers).
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check
• Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver's License
• Ability to work shift work as required.
• Essential Services Designation Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
• Travel. May require floating to other DYS Youth Centers to help with