Clinical Nurse I - Cermak

Cook County Government•Chicago, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Nurse I provides professional nursing care to patients/detainees of various ages at Cermak Health Services, using the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. The nurse works with patients, correctional officers, physicians, peers, department heads, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams; practices within the scope of the Illinois Nurse Practice Act; and uses critical thinking and problem-solving to support positive patient outcomes. This union position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between Cook County and the National Nurses Organizing Committee. The posted shift is 3:00 PM–11:30 PM. The hourly salary range is $38.203–$52.061, commensurate with documented RN experience at the time of application. The Clinical Nurse I provides direct care and helps lead, supervise, and coordinate the work of ambulatory and infirmary personnel, including Licensed Practical Nurses and other nursing support staff. The role includes medication administration, patient rounds and triage, emergency response, care coordination, documentation, staff support, quality improvement, supply management, and maintaining professional standards in a correctional healthcare environment.

Requirements

Current license as a Registered Professional Nurse in Illinois, or ability to obtain it at least two weeks before starting employment.
Current CPR card; proof must be provided at the time of interview.
Knowledge of Medical-Surgical standards of care, skin and wound care, hypertension and related side effects, diabetes care, fluids and electrolytes, routine laboratory tests, and ambulatory care standards.
Basic knowledge of nursing management for oncology patients; patients with respiratory disturbances, tuberculosis, or asthma; patients with head trauma or neurological disturbances; patients with musculoskeletal challenges; and patients requiring restorative care.
Knowledge and demonstrated skills in nursing management of renal patients.
Good physical assessment skills.
Competence in managing patients requiring intravenous therapy, obtaining venous access, blood drawing, and point-of-care testing.
Ability to insert and manage nasogastric tubes and care for patients with digestive disturbances.
Ability to meet all required qualifications at the time of application filing.

Nice To Haves

One year of recent paid clinical experience within the last three years in acute care or an ambulatory facility.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
Drug or alcohol dependency experience or case management experience.
Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing.

Responsibilities

Apply and document all elements of the nursing process, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care and outcomes.
Use a multidisciplinary approach, critical thinking, and clinical judgment to support quality patient care and decision-making.
Delegate tasks to LPNs and other support staff and remain accountable for patient care.
Work with patients, families, and healthcare workers to support patients’ attainable levels of wellness.
Assess and triage patients, including reviewing detainee Health Request Forms, promoting patient education, and supporting illness prevention.
Participate in unit meetings, decision-making, cost containment, quality improvement, committees, conferences, and training activities.
Follow department, divisional, unit, institutional, and professional nursing policies, procedures, and standards.
Maintain attendance, punctuality, annual in-service education, current correctional standards knowledge, licensure, CPR, and other required professional certifications.
Contribute to the orientation of new personnel and provide supervision and support to LPNs and other support staff.
Administer medications according to policies and practice standards; ensure medication passage and report and document refusals or omissions.
Conduct patient rounds on units and tiers; assess healthcare and emergency-care needs, initiate appropriate action, and facilitate transport to the emergency room when appropriate.
Use emergency equipment appropriately and collaborate with physicians, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, correctional staff, and other healthcare team members.
Promote positive customer relations and maintain safety, ethics, confidentiality, and professional conduct in the correctional environment.
Support unit operations by serving as a resource, reporting unit problems and activities to the House Administrator when the Nurse Coordinator is unavailable, adjusting assignments as needed, and assisting with work prioritization and delegation.
Coordinate supplies and equipment for continuity of care across shifts, make patient rounds to evaluate care and census needs, implement physician orders and nursing directives, communicate unit activities, arrange staffing for the oncoming shift, and provide reports to the charge nurse or manager.
Provide direct patient care, collect assessment data, initiate care plans, and document care administered.
Maintain medical supply and equipment inventories, prepare requisitions, and assist with clinic records and logs.
Assist providers with medical tasks and respond to emergency situations.
Perform other duties as assigned.