Correctional Health Nurse I

• Provides direct health care services to Adult Detention Center inmates;
  

• Conducts admission interviews to gather medical, mental health and social histories;

• Performs medical, dental, and mental health screenings and/or assessments;

• Provides therapeutic nursing services including administers tests (e.g., PPD, pregnancy testing) and injections, dispensing medications, and collecting vital signs;

• Reviews and interprets laboratory and diagnostic test results for advanced level practitioner follow-up;

• Assesses and identifies contributing or co-occurring mental health issues, determines risk of harm to self and/or others;

• Monitors medical status of patients through the acute and chronic disease management and the withdrawal/detoxification of alcohol and drugs processes;

• Triages and refers the patients to the staff physician, nurse practitioner, dentist, mental health or substance use disorder professional;

• Administers medication as ordered by the authorizing authority and in accordance with standard operating procedures;

• Documents all treatment and counseling on the appropriate records;

• Ensures proper protective equipment is worn or used;

• Maintains universal precautions and promotes their observance by all agency staff.

• Knowledge of nursing standards, theories, principles, practices, methods, and protocols;

• Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations, policy and procedures relating to the nursing services provision;

• Knowledge of human growth and development, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology (e.g., medication therapeutic use, side effects, contraindications), preventive medicine, epidemiology, and nutrition;

• Knowledge of federal and state pharmacology regulations specific to the storage, dispensing and administration of medications;

• Knowledge of psychiatric, psychological, and/or sociological terminology and concepts;

• Knowledge of substance use disorders, addiction signs and symptoms, assessment techniques, and applicable treatment interventions;

• Ability to perform technical and complex nursing procedures (e.g., injections, venipuncture, blood pressure screening, STD testing, tube feeding, nebulization treatment, wound care assessment and dressing, and use of various medical equipment in delivering services to clients;

• Ability to apply emergency medical techniques such as CPR, control of bleeding and airway maintenance;

• Ability to assess and monitor the effects of medical and psychiatric medications;

• Ability to maintain security of the work environment and comply with facility rules, regulations, policies and directives;

• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, public and private organizations, and community medical and mental health providers;

• Ability to maintain composure in fast-paced, potentially stressful situations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 
Graduation from a college or university accredited by the National League for Nursing with a bachelor's degree in Nursing; or an associate's degree accredited by the National League for Nursing or equivalent program as determined by the Virginia State Board of Nursing.  

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED: 

• Possession of a current license or a multistate licensure privilege to practice as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Basic Life Support (BLS).
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification (Required within 1 year after the appointment).

• Prior experience working as a nurse in an emergency room (ER) or Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
• Experience working as a nurse in correctional health.
• Experience providing hands-on health care.