Registered Nurse

Job Summary

Utilizes the nursing process to meet a variety of healthcare needs with ambulatory care as the primary focus. Works with a variety of health care professionals and security officers in a correctional environment. Frequent functions guided by nursing protocols. Functions as a team leader as assigned.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Patient care and preparation
• Medical equipment management
• Patient education
• Documentation and reporting

Skills / Abilities

• Clinical skills
• Organizational skills
• Communication skills

Performance Expectations

• Provides direct and indirect nursing care to meet the psychological, psychosocial and emotional needs of the inmate-patient within the framework established by the correctional system
• Performs assessments of inmate-patient in a variety of settings
• Utilizes assessment skills that require a knowledge base of both normal and abnormal adult health status
• Communicates assessment data in a comprehensive, orderly fashion both verbally and in writing
• Plans nursing care by identification of inmate-patient needs based on assessments
• Makes appropriate, timely referrals and initiates appropriate nursing care based on institutional policies and procedures
• Documents plans appropriately
• Implements nursing care and medical care orders in a knowledgeable, safe and cost-effective manner
• Documents nursing care and appropriate medically directed care in accordance with institutional policies and procedures
• Provides inmate education as an integral part of total patient care
• Evaluates and documents inmate-patient responses to aspects of health care and makes appropriate referrals to members of the health care team
• Frees as a team leader or charge nurse, delegates duties to other health care team members based on their skill, knowledge and experience and guides the provision of care by others
• Communicates information in an accurate, concise and timely manner
• Protects confidentiality of information in written and verbal communications
• Participates in problem-solving activities of the health care team by attending unit meetings, utilizing positive interpersonal skills and appropriate channels to initiate change
• Functions as a role model for other health care unit personnel and maintains harmonious relationships with security, inmate-patients and members of the health care team
• Uses current knowledge to promote a safe environment for providing health care to inmate-patients
• Maintains clinical area in a clean, neat & safe manner and participates in required counts and cleaning assignments
• Adheres to institutional and medical unit infection control policies
• Understands and adheres to safe correctional nursing practices and institutional security directives
• Adheres to environmental safety guidelines, policies and procedures
• Participates in fire and disaster programs & drills as appropriate
• Maintains current professional skills and continues professional growth to enhance the practice of correctional nursing and the image of the organization
• Attends appropriate in-services and continuing education offerings to obtain and maintain necessary skills
• Participates in offering education to inmate, security officers and other members of the health care team
• Accepts assignments and extra duties with flexibility and willingness to participate in activities other than direct patient care
• Adheres to personnel policies to enhance the operation of the health care unit
• Conforms to dress code
• Adheres to attendance policy
• Reports to work at designated time

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing with current licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state of employment
• Must conform to the security standards of the institution where employed
• Must be Hands-On CPR certified