Lead Nurse, Registered Nurse III, RN III - Gilliam Youth Services Center

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

12d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is open only to Colorado state residents. This position will receive a short-staffing temporary pay differential of 4% from July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies (Including both part and full time positions). The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State. For pre-adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a State-funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system. In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State.

Requirements

Current, valid licensure as a Registered Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing or any state participating in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC)
Three (3) years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position
Be a minimum of 21 years of age
No felony convictions or history of domestic violence
Full Background Check required (CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification, Drug Screen, PREA, Trails check, CAPS)
Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License
Ability to work shift work as required.
Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
May require floating to other DYS Youth Centers to help with coverage, travel to meetings and training.
Must maintain a current CPR Card and perform CPR adequate compressions and ventilations per CPR guidelines.
Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
The Diana Screen®, a sexual risk screening tool, is administered to all applicants to the Division of Youth Services (DYS) seeking positions of trust with children and teens to help ensure that ethical boundaries between children and adults are maintained.
Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose that information on the application and explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position. Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Nice To Haves

Experience with adolescent health care.
Experience with mental health nursing
Experience with correctional nursing
Relatable experience as a current or previous State of Colorado employee.

Responsibilities

Provide clinical and administrative leadership for nursing staff, health care technicians, students, and orientees through effective delegation, oversight of assignments, and guidance on clinical interventions.
Coordinate daily operations by assigning duties, ensuring timely task completion, and maintaining continuity of care across shifts through consistent communication.
Serve as a liaison between nursing staff, providers, and administration, ensuring alignment of care delivery with professional standards and organizational expectations.
Orients new employees and serves as a preceptor for students.
Acts as the primary point of contact for academic institutions supporting RN, NP, and PA student placements.
Leads regular staff meetings and completes peer reviews to promote clinical performance improvement and adherence to treatment protocols.
Collaborate with the Medical Operations Coordinator and Medical Authority to evaluate clinic processes, recommend improvements, and implement strategic changes.
Ensure all supervised staff maintain current licensure, certifications, and required annual training in accordance with DYS policy and Colorado state regulations.
Manage personnel functions including hiring, scheduling, timekeeping oversight, performance evaluations (PMAPs) including co-supervision for mid-level providers, and corrective actions as needed.
Address interpersonal conflicts and investigate complaints or grievances from staff, youth, families, and other stakeholders, facilitating timely resolution.
Direct and monitor quality assurance projects by reviewing medical documents that may include but not be limited to medication administration records, medication packages, incident reports, pharmacy invoices, and electronic health record documentation.
Ensure that NCCHC and DYS medical audit standards are met in the medical clinic and respond to yearly audits by formulating and implementing corrective action plans as needed.
Ensure monthly monitoring of the compliance review standards and the maintenance of the NCCHC folders to ensure a continual state of readiness and compliance.
Review patient occurrences and responds to performance issues of assigned staff/shift.
Collect and report monthly statistical data required for Behavioral Health and Medical Services, and the KPI’s for the facility.
Review policies and procedures on a regular basis and collaborates with facility administrators and supervisors in the writing and/or revising facility medical implementing procedures.
Completes the medical logs pertinent to the medical department.
Administer nursing care and provide youth education for routine, urgent, and emergent medical situations within the scope of practice.
Obtain laboratory and other diagnostic procedures ordered by medical providers, reviews results, and notifies the provider of results when indicated.
Initiate nursing/medical treatment plans for youth with special health care needs.
Review and revise treatment plans as needed.
Complete health appraisals, physical exams, vision/hearing screenings, in-house laboratory diagnostic testing (e.g. urine dipsticks, pregnancy tests, STI urine testing, PPD tests etc.), and immunizations per Division of Youth Services (DYS) policy.
Document all encounters with youth in the electronic medical records system and/or appropriate medical logs in an accurate and timely manner.
Maintain confidentiality of all patient information (oral and written) according to federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.
Initiate consultations/referrals to mid-level providers and/or appropriate physician when indicated.
Respond to requests for emergent situations (Code Blue, Code Red) occurring on campus, administers CPR/First Aid, and initiates a 911 call if indicated.
Transcribe and processe provider medication orders, including preparation and administration of medications, such as intramuscular injections, in accordance with prescribed directives.
Maintain and update Medication Administration Records (MAR), conduct routine audits for accuracy, and reports discrepancies to the medical operations coordinator and facility administration.
Deliver medications, and medical supplies and evaluates youth who may be confined to specific buildings or rooms throughout the campus setting.
Review immunization status and administers vaccines per provider recommendations and CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines, ensuring compliance with Vaccines for Children (VFC) program requirements for storage, handling, and administration.
Other Duties as Assigned

Benefits

Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
Employee Wellness program
Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.