CORRECTIONAL NURSE 3

This position is located at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City.

About the role

The Correctional Nurse 3 is a supervisory position that provides comprehensive nursing care to incarcerated individuals within a Nevada Department of Corrections facility. This role functions under minimal supervision and is responsible for performing advanced clinical duties, including conducting physical assessments, developing and implementing care plans, and managing both chronic and acute health conditions. The nurse will administer medications, monitor treatment responses, and provide emergency interventions when necessary. Working collaboratively with physicians, mental health professionals, and correctional officers, the Correctional Nurse 3 ensures continuity of care while adhering to safety, security, and infection control protocols.

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.
• Coordinate 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; count controlled medications and sharps to ensure security; monitor patient for medication side effects and/or allergic reaction; document medications administered and refused.
• Perform physical assessments and assist in physical examinations and diagnostic testing; obtain samples for laboratory tests as ordered by a physician or designee; perform assigned laboratory tests.
• Provide emergency medical treatments such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid required to stabilize the patient’s condition and prevent more serious complications pursuant to established policy and security conditions.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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; schedule appointments; 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.
• Serve as a first-line supervisor including providing work direction and resolving patient care and staffing issues; assign and review work, establish work performance standards, evaluate performance, and provide counseling and discipline to subordinate staff in an assigned work area on a shift.
• Coordinate and provide health-related training for medical, custody, and other staff on a statewide basis; assess training needs; plan, develop, implement, and evaluate health-related training programs; track attendance and maintain documentation for credentialing and other mandatory certification; develop budget and statistical reports as required.

Requirements

• License as a Registered Nurse and three years of professional nursing experience in a correctional or institutional setting; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.
• CPR certification is required at the time of appointment and as a condition of continued employment.
• A pre-employment criminal history check and fingerprinting are required.
• Pre-employment screening for controlled substances as a condition of employment.
• 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 condition of continuing employment.
• Subject to call-back, overtime on short notice, stand-by status, and must work various hours and/or shifts including evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• A valid driver's license is required at the time of appointment.

Skills

• Detailed knowledge of the documentation process.
• Working knowledge of quality assurance and/or utilization review audit and compliance activities including applicable regulatory standards; staff education and training techniques, organization, and communication techniques.
• General knowledge of staffing requirements for a shift; principles and practices of supervision.
• Ability to deal effectively with personnel and staffing issues; respond to and resolve patient care issues; participate in internal investigations.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance programs for employees and their dependents/family 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: 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).

State holidays include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Nevada Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Family Day, and Christmas Day.