Registered Nurse I, RN I - Gilliam, Youth Services Center - Denver

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

1d•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. You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times. Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.

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)
Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence
Full Background.
CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers).
This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check
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.
Medical Waste
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. 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.
Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications.
You must complete the official State of Colorado online application.
Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process.
You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."
You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process.
Part-time work experience will be prorated.
Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.
If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase.
Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.
Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

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

Delivers health care to detained and committed youth within the nurse’s scope of practice.
Performs initial nursing assessments and triage of requests for health/medical care submitted by youth.
Reviews the admission medical information obtained by security staff at intake.
Administers nursing care and provides youth education for routine, urgent, and emergent medical situations within scope of practice.
Obtains laboratory and other diagnostic procedures ordered by medical providers, reviews results, and notifies the provider of results when indicated.
Initiates nursing/medical treatment plans for youth with special health care needs and reviews/revises treatment plans as needed.
Completes 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.
Documents all encounters with youth in the electronic medical records system and/or appropriate medical logs accurately and timely.
Maintains confidentiality of all patient information (oral and written) according to federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.
Initiates consultations/referrals to mid-level provider and/or appropriate physician when indicated.
Responds to requests for emergent situations (Code Blue, Code Red) occurring on campus, administers CPR/First Aid, and initiates a 911 call if indicated.
Delivers medications, medical supplies, and evaluates youth who may be confined to specific buildings or rooms throughout the campus setting.
Performs other nursing duties as delegated/ordered by DYS physicians or mid-level providers.
Responsible for the ordering and preparation of youth’s medications for administration within the facility.
Transcription and procurement of psychiatrist, physician, and/or mid-level provider medication orders.
Maintains accuracy of individual Medication Administration Records (MAR) through continuous review and updating.
Monitors MARs for medication errors and reports them to the Lead Medical or Mid-Level Provider in charge, including lack of documentation regarding administration of medications.
Educates youth and staff about medications, side effects, desired effects, and the importance of compliance with prescribed medications.
Investigates and documents interviews with youth refusing prescribed medications and initiates interventions.
Maintains inventory logs of medications arriving at the facility for youth, preparing them for administration by medical and QMAP staff and delivering them to youth.
Transcribes, orders, prepares, and administers medications including intramuscular medications per prescribed providers’ orders.
Updates Medication Administration Record (MAR).
Monitors MARs for errors and reports errors to the medical clinic supervisor and facility administration.
Assists in ordering and maintaining stock supplies, medications, and equipment within the campus clinics.
Monitors inventory and restocks medications and supplies in campus clinics and living units.
Checks campus First Aid Kits, AED’s, pharmaceutical refrigerators, and other equipment on a continuing basis to maintain adequate functioning of the medical department and provision of health care for youth.
Documents administration of youth medications and behavioral contacts in the electronic medical record database.
Assesses vaccine status and administers needed vaccines per CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and provider recommendation.
Follows Vaccine for Children’s Program protocols for immunization administration and safe storage and handling.
Evaluates resident’s mental status/mental health and behavioral health conditions through interview, health appraisal, and observation.
Performs nursing assessment of youths’ mental status through interview and observations, health screen, and health appraisal.
Provides basic mental health intervention and refers to psychiatrist or mental health resource for further evaluation, intervention, or transfer to a mental health institution.
Provides basic nursing interventions/education during encounters with youth as indicated.
Makes appropriate referrals and/or consultations with mental health providers or psychiatrist.
Conducts mental health referrals as necessary.
Actively involves parents and legal guardians in the care and treatment of the mental health of their youth.
Assesses and identifies knowledge deficits regarding general health and hygiene topics presented by youth in routine and formal encounters.
Provides individual and group education regarding health promotion, disease, and injury prevention to youth and staff on an ongoing basis.
Topics specific to this population include but are not limited to: healthy lifestyle (diet, exercise, sleep hygiene, stress management), proper hygiene practices, dental care, STIs and safe sexual practices, contraceptive options, injury prevention using helmets and other protective sports gear, and other issues identified by youth/staff.
Identifies gender-specific educational needs of youth.
Provides ongoing education regarding medication administration, infection prevention, and other health-related topics specific to staff.
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.