Nursing Residency Program - Nurse I - CMHHIP - Pueblo

State of Colorado•Pueblo, CO

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The RN Residency Program is a one-year program designed to equip novice Registered Nurses (RNs) with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide high-quality mental health care in a safe and secure environment. The program includes an explicit curriculum with orientation, mentorship from experienced RNs, reflection, theory, practical hands-on experiences, and an evidence-based project to enhance learning and build confidence. The Nurse I will provide clinical direction for nursing staff on the assigned shift and unit, working in conjunction with the Nurse Manager. This includes assisting with assignments based on patient acuity and maximizing the quality of care. The Nurse I is responsible for ensuring all nursing services are delivered correctly and in compliance with hospital policies, nursing standards, licensure requirements, and governing bodies. They will communicate changes in processes, policies, and procedures to unit staff and conduct regular individual clinical supervision sessions. The Nurse I will also function as the charge nurse, reporting any safety or nursing concerns to the Nurse Managers promptly and utilizing available resources. They will maintain nursing standards of care, adhere to the CDHS Code of Conduct and CMHHIP Code of Ethics, and stay current with new policies and literature, communicating updates to subordinates. The Nurse I will collaborate with all departments, provide guidance for shift reports, direct nursing care, and ensure appropriate staffing levels are maintained. They will also implement actions to maximize nursing personnel productivity through mentoring, training, leadership, and feedback, ensuring staff are knowledgeable with electronic systems like BEHR and Cornerstone, and promoting staff development by supporting compliance with mandatory training. The Nurse I will act as a resource for staff, providing direction and support, and ensuring adherence to regulatory guidelines. They are responsible for the nursing care provided on their assigned shift, maintaining a safe, secure, and therapeutic environment, and promptly responding to patient psychiatric and/or medical issues. This includes participating in and promoting Trauma Informed Care initiatives, auditing and reviewing nursing care, and ensuring proper procedures for documentation, seclusion/restraint monitoring, respiratory services, oxygen equipment, and laboratory services. The Nurse I will ensure staff correctly identify patients before administering medications or treatments, follow infection control standards, and evaluate concerns related to the nursing care plan. They will utilize Patient Rights for mental health legal issues, comply with policies, provide intervention in critical situations, and counsel/educate patients and families on medications, physical care, and psychiatric care needs. The Nurse I will also provide coverage on the shift/unit and ensure a safe milieu for patient treatment, reporting urgent issues to the Nurse Manager. Other duties as assigned may be completed for the shift/unit or department.

Requirements

Possess a valid, active Registered Nurse License issued by the State of Colorado (Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) OR any state participating in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC)).
Ability to maintain required licensure/credentials.
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services, this includes needs assessment.
Knowledge of human behavior and performance, individual difference in ability, personality, and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Knowledgeable in nursing processes.
Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong; to include not only solving the problem but recognizing there is a problem.
Ability to speak and write effectively, providing valid and pertinent information to peers, coworkers, and subordinates.
Ability to monitor/assess performance.
Organization Skills.
Ability to enter, transcribe, record, store, or maintain information in written or electronic form.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office software, excel spreadsheet, database software and email.
FULL BACKGROUND CHECK: This position will have direct contact with vulnerable persons.
CBI & FBI fingerprint check, Colorado Court Database check, Medicare Fraud Database, TRAILS Database check.
This position will also provide direct care to vulnerable adults requiring a CAPS check.
May work various shifts.
Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons.
Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position.
Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal or financial relationships with patients either during or any time after hospitalization , even if the patient requests or initiates such a relationship.
Successfully pass all modules of the CMHHIP New Employee Orientation core curriculum to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics.
Possess the physical ability to successfully complete hospital-adopted physical interventions and CPR.
Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist.
Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled containment to the floor.
Withstand impact on own body using an ASP shield.
Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for using a defensive tactic.
Kneel on one or both knees and stand up again with multiple repetitions.
Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety.
Seize, hold, control or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury.
Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently.
Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations.
Ability to read and comprehend the English language; effectively and fluently communicates in English, both verbally and in writing.
Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold) which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings.
Willing and able to travel.
2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire.
Annual influenza vaccination, other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado.
If you have a multistate license and change your primary state of residence to another state within the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), you must apply for a license in that state within 60 days.
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.
Must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."
Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Nice To Haves

Graduate from a Nursing Program within the last 12 months.
No current RN work experience.
No previous work experience at CMHHIP.
A strong work ethic based on a foundation of self-motivation, loyalty, honesty, and integrity.
Dependable, responsible, and adaptable.
Relevant years of state service experience.

Responsibilities

Provide clinical direction for all nursing staff on the assigned shift and unit while working in conjunction with the Nurse Manager.
Help direct assignments in conjunction with the staff schedule by utilizing knowledge of acuity, and pool staff to maximize the quality of care given to unit patients.
Ensure all nursing assignments and duties are completed and in compliance with CMHHIP policies and psychiatric and medical nursing standards, licensure requirements and governing bodies.
Notify unit nursing staff promptly of changes to processes, policies and procedures through communication methods to include Cornerstone Rosters, meetings, email and individual contact.
Conduct individual clinical supervision sessions regularly.
Communicate regularly with other disciplines, department leadership regarding nursing directives and disseminates information as appropriate.
Interpret other leadership communication to understand changes that may or may not directly impact the nursing department.
Function as the charge nurse for the shift and report any injury of staff from assaultive/combative patients, other employee absences, and/or any other safety or nursing concerns to the Nurse Managers promptly.
Utilize resources available in the Staffing Office.
Maintain nursing standards of care for their assigned shift on the unit by creating and maintaining processes to communicate and follow up with assigned staff so that standards are kept in compliance.
Adhere to CDHS Code of Conduct and CMHHIP Code of Ethics.
Maintain current knowledge of new policies, standards, updates, literature related to nursing and specialty areas and communicate to subordinates.
Notify nursing supervisors promptly of issues on the unit with patients and nursing staff members.
Work collaboratively with all departments and provide assistance when needed.
Provide guidance and direction for daily cross shift report, directs nursing care and communication to shift personnel.
Assure the unit(s) is directed and staffed appropriately according to hospital procedure along with assuring staffing levels are maintained and accurate.
Implement actions to maximize the productivity of assigned nursing personnel by mentoring, training, leadership, and providing feedback through immediate feedback and guidance.
Ensure assigned staff’s knowledge and fluency with electronic system BEHR, Cornerstone assignments to include mandatory rosters and training.
Promote staff development and training by supporting staff compliance with hospital wide mandatory training.
Direct staff to follow various manuals, standards and regulations to include but not limited to: DSM, Pharmacy Formulary, Treatment Plans, Infection Control Manual, Physicians Orders, Court orders, Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation Standards, Environment of Care Manual, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Safety Data Sheets, Colorado State Personnel Procedure Manual, Affirmative Action policy, Colorado Workers Compensation guidelines, Rainbow book and Emergency Guides, ADA statutes, Colorado Alliance for the Mentally Ill Recommendations, Patients Rights Handbook.
Act as a resource for staff.
Provide direction and support to the assigned shift on the unit.
Know and follow regulatory guidelines.
Responsible for the nursing care provided on the assigned shift of a unit and maintenance of a safe, secure and therapeutic environment.
Promptly respond to patient’s psychiatric and/or medical issues.
Participate in Trauma Informed Care initiatives and understand and promote its principles.
Implement, audit and review nursing care provided on the shift/unit.
Provide follow up for proper nursing care; ie., documentation for seclusion or seclusion and restraint monitoring, proper procedure for respiratory services, oxygen and oxygen equipment, and laboratory services after hours and obtaining data from the AED.
Participate and ensure staff correctly identify patient prior to administration of medications, treatments, blood testing, or starting an invasive procedure.
Follow and maintain Infection control standards and regulations.
Evaluate concerns related to nursing care plan by assessing, identifying, planning, implementing, evaluating, and revising the nursing care given based on the nursing history.
Utilize Patient Rights for mental health legal issues and comply with policy and procedure in these areas.
Provide intervention in critical situations as necessary.
Counsel and educate patients on medications, physical care needs, and psychiatric care needs during group therapies, Plan of Care Reviews, Plan of Care Formulations, 1:1 therapies, talking and educating the patient's family.
Provide coverage on the shift/unit.
Ensure a safe milieu for patient treatment.
Report staff and patient issues to the Nurse Manager if urgent.
Complete any other duties that may need to be completed for the shift/unit and or department.

Benefits

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
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program