CORRECTIONAL NURSE 1 - UNDERFILL

About the role

The Nevada Department of Corrections is recruiting for a Correctional Nurse 1 underfilling a Correctional Nurse 2 position at Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City. The incumbent will work under the supervision of Correctional Nurse 3 and consult with them regularly.

Responsibilities

• Identify patient health care needs utilizing professional nursing assessment skills;
• Make comprehensive clinical observations and evaluations of health needs including subtle abnormalities and changes in condition;
• Record and report indicative signs and symptoms of physical and mental condition;
• Prepare nursing care plans by assessing patient’s psychological and physical condition and conferring with other health care professionals;
• Evaluate needs and develop nursing diagnoses, plans for treatment, services and health education based on the present and predicted needs of the patient;
• Identify immediate and long-term care goals;
• Review and revise care plans as needed;
• Cook up health services and treatment;
• Conduct sick calls for inmates with medical complaints;
• Identify inmates requiring immediate medical treatment;
• Obtain physician’s or designee’s orders for treatment;
• Collaborate with professional and paraprofessional staff to ensure optimum patient care;
• Administer medication to identified patients as prescribed by a physician or designee;
• Ensure correct time, dosage and route of administration;
• Deliver medication to inmates confined to their cells;
• Obtain and distribute non-prescription medications such as aspirin, lozenges, cold tablets;
• Count controlled medications and needles, syringes, and sharps to ensure security;
• Monitor patient for medication side effects and/or allergic reaction;
• Observe patient to determine if medication is effective for prescribed treatment and document medications administered and refused;
• If necessary, notify appropriate personnel of action taken;
• Document nurse progress notes in medical charts including patient’s health status, changes in condition, and medications administered;
• Review charts for changes in orders and transcribe;
• Prepare written reports, records and summaries;
• Perform quality improvement activities such as auditing charts and compiling statistics;
• Ensure applicable regulatory standards are met including documentation of the care delivery process;
• Carry out therapeutic procedures which provide for the emotional and physical comfort of patients;
• Provide patient education related to good health habits and answer questions regarding prescribed treatment;
• Provide health related education and training to staff;
• Prepare and maintain medical treatment rooms, ensuring supplies are available and ready for use;
• Order and stock medical and related supplies and equipment as needed;
• Maintain safety, health and well-being of individuals in the therapeutic environment;
• May assist in physically restraining patients who are a threat to themselves or others and may be hostile and combative;
• Follow facility procedures regarding techniques and duration of confinement;
• Notify appropriate personnel of action taken and document as required;
• Coordinate and/or participate in clinics;
• Schedule appointments;
• Conduct screening tests;
• Give immunization injections;
• Create and maintain associated records;
• Coordinate outside medical appointments for inmates;
• Arrange for transportation;
• Inform patient of special instructions required as appropriate;
• May delegate to other personnel direct care duties consistent with their licensure, certification and competency;
• Supervise inmates assigned to the infirmary.

Requirements

• License as a Registered Nurse and one year of professional nursing experience;
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.

Qualifications

Nurses are responsible for maintaining safety, health and wellbeing of inmates in the therapeutic environment; assist in physically restraining hostile or combative patients; coordinate and schedule outside medical appointments for inmates; and arrange for transportation to exterior medical appointments.

Skills

Working knowledge of: universal precautions and infection control techniques and procedures; medical terminology sufficient to understand doctor’s orders.

Benefits

Health Insurance: Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance programs for employees and their dependents/family are offered through the Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP).

Vacation: Accrual of three weeks of annual leave each year.

Sick Leave: Accrual of three weeks of sick leave each year.

Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year.

Retirement: Participation in the Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).

Employees do not contribute to Social Security but will contribute to PERS if their position is at 50% or more full-time equivalency.

Deferred Compensation: The State offers a voluntary Deferred Compensation Program.

No Nevada state income tax.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Eligible due to public sector employment.

Longevity Payments Eligibility: Employees who have received a performance rating of “standard” or better and have completed eight (8) or more years of continuous service are eligible for longevity pay.

Additional benefits may apply to employees covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), depending on their designated bargaining unit.

For more information, visit the Labor Relations Unit (LRU).

State Holidays

• January 1.............................................. New Year's Day
• Third Monday in January.................. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
• Third Monday in February................ Washington’s Birthday
• Last Monday in May........................... Memorial Day
• June 19................................................ Juneteenth Day
• July 4.................................................... Independence Day
• Last Monday in September.............. Labor Day
• Friday following the Fourth Thursday in November...................... Family Day
• December 25........................................ Christmas Day

Conditions of Employment

• Probationary employees working in a correctional setting must successfully complete 40 hours of "preservice” training provided by the Department of Corrections.
• Out of state applicants must have a temporary license as a Registered Nurse issued by the Nevada State Board of Nursing at the time of appointment and must obtain permanent licensure as a Registered Nurse issued by the Nevada State Board of Nursing as a condition of continuing employment.
• Pursuant to NRS 284.4066, positions in this series have been identified as affecting public safety.