Registered Nurse - Correctional Facility

Job Summary

Performs responsible, skilled nursing duties through assessment, screening, education, and delegated medical functions in a secure correctional institution setting. Provides professional care, counseling, and guidance to individuals and groups to improve the level of health and welfare within the inmate population. Schedule may include day and evening shifts, as well as work on weekends and holidays. Performs related work as assigned. Work is performed in an institutional setting in the housing unit and/or in the facility infirmary. Provides emergency/disaster services, including emergency preparedness activities.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Provides medical care to the inmate population of the Scott County Jail, providing skilled nursing care and ensuring inmate medical needs are being met with the appropriate level of care.

• Promotes and maintains health of individuals and the jail community through assessment/evaluation, teaching, counseling, and applying appropriate preventative and rehabilitative measures.

• Reviews all intake health forms on newly incarcerated inmates; completes intake health assessments and identifies any potential health issues and initiates medical screening as warranted; reviews and assesses all prescribed medications brought in by inmates.

• Performs physical and mental health assessments as required based on inmate complaints; reports findings in accordance with established protocols; initiates treatments as appropriate according to established standing orders or orders received after physician consultation; monitors inmate health, treatment, and medical regimens.

• Makes arrangements for further health care as deemed necessary, including appointments for dental, medical, psychological, laboratory, and other treatment modalities; schedules laboratory draws/tests and x-rays as ordered by the physician.

• Prepares carts for medication distribution by the Corrections Officers to inmates in the housing units; educates inmates and correctional staff regarding medication side effects or symptoms of allergic reaction; orders medication refills as necessary.

• Performs inventory and orders over-the-counter medications and medical supplies.

• Maintains medical records related to health/medical and mental health screening and medical treatment administered to inmates; provides health education and discharge instructions to any inmate who received medical treatment during incarceration; provides follow-up and/or appropriate referral to other agencies as necessary.

• Institutes communicable disease screening measures per the standards of the facility; ensures communicable diseases are reported as required; works with corrections staff to  isolate inmates per policy and medical requirements; follows instructions and/or standard procedures for investigating communicable disease contacts.

• Participates in staff meetings and conferences with agencies/personnel relevant to providing services to the inmates; keeps self abreast of trends in correctional health nursing through attendance at training courses and through personal study.

• Responds to medical emergencies in the jail facility when on duty.

• Maintains medical files; reviews case files; and makes recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of jail medical services.

• Shares after hours "on-call" duties alternating with two other nursing staff.

• Works the days and hours necessary to perform all assigned responsibilities and tasks. Must be available (especially during regular business hours or shifts) to communicate with other employees, supervisors, customers, vendors, and any other person or organization with whom interaction is required to accomplish work and employer goals.

• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Requires a license to practice as a Registered Nurse issued by Minnesota.  One must possess a valid driver's license and a reliable means of transportation for the performance of work responsibilities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATION(S)

Preference for experience with disease-prevention and control, corrections or institutional nursing, or mental health/psychiatric nursing. Skills in triage are desirable.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The employee is under operations/ security supervision from the Jail Administrator and Corrections Lieutenant. Work direction and medical guidance is provided to the incumbent by the County's Medical Director and the Nursing Team Leader who serve as resources available for consultation, collaboration, and follow-up. All professional activity shall be conducted in accordance with the MN Nurse Practice Act. Work is performed with considerable latitude for the exercise of independent judgment and is completed in accordance with medical protocols, department policies and procedures, and established standards of practice. Work is reviewed through medical record reviews and case consultations.

CORE COMPETENCIES AND ABILITIES
Customer Service - Delivers government services in a respectful, responsive, and solution-oriented manner.

Communication - Is always clear about what we're doing and why we're doing it.

Collaboration - Works with partners – communities, schools, faith groups, private business, and non-profit agencies – to see that services are not duplicated but rather are complimentary, aligned, and provided by the partners who can deliver the service most effectively.

Stewardship - Works proactively to make investments, guided by resident input, which will transform lives, communities, and government.

Empowerment - Works with individuals and families to affirm strengths, develop skills, restore hope, and promote self-reliance.

Resiliency - Fosters public preparedness and responds when families and communities face health and safety emergencies.

Innovation - Takes informed risks to deliver services more effectively and learns from successes and failures.

Knowledge – Knowledge of the methods and techniques of general nursing care and their relation to medical and surgical practice of medicine, nutrition, infectious diseases, and personal hygiene.

Knowledge of principles and theories of professional nursing care as applied in a general or specialized clinical setting.

Knowledge of the methods and procedures of patient care, examination, standard testing procedures, and treatment techniques.

Abilities – Ability to work with jail inmates who have the potential to become violent, aggressive, and use profane language.

Ability to use computers and MS Office software for charting of inmate sick call interactions, nurses orders, review of inmates booking record to determine length of stay and other pertinent information for proper inmate medical care.

Ability to use appropriate discretion in dealing with matters of a confidential nature.

Ability to assess medical situations and taking appropriate action, carry out nursing care plans and/or physician's orders.

Ability to use diagnostic tools and instruments.

Ability to handle difficult behavior and remain calm in tense and potentially threatening situations

Ability to make independent decisions according to accepted nursing practice standards.

Ability to educate others about health issues and direct their actions toward care of the individual.

Ability to keep detailed records, adhere to documentation guidelines, and prepare nurse orders and reports.

Ability to demonstrate strong collaboration skills, communicating a plan of treatment for the incarcerated individual with Jail Duty Sergeants and Corrections staff to ensure continuity of care.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Typical characteristics of the regular, ongoing work environment of this position requires inside work, occurring in correctional and infirmary-type settings. The position is multi-task oriented and includes periods of stress when balancing the needs/demands of multiple parties. Incumbent may need to respond to health emergencies within the jail setting including unknown or emerging infectious diseases and health threats. Evening and weekend hours are required for accomplishing work in this 24/7 operation. There is potential for exposure to blood borne pathogens, airborne pathogens, antibiotic resistant wounds, verbal abuse, and unexpected inmate behaviors. Evening, weekend, and on-call status will be required.

Physical activities include sedentary to light work: Reaching, sitting, standing, walking, pushing, lifting, pulling, fingering, grasping, feeling, stooping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.  Lifts and/or navigates up to 35 pounds on a routine basis in handling files and equipment necessary for performing the essential duties of the job.  In the event of an emergency, physical requirements will increase and be more demanding in all areas listed.

Special Note: Corrections Officers are trained to dispense medications to inmates. The jail nurses provide oversight and review of Corrections Officers medication dispensing activities.

SELECTION PROCESS

Selection for this position will be based on a minimum qualifications screening and rating of training and experience.  Top candidates will be invited to participate in an oral interview. Final selection will include an oral interview, background investigation, physical exam, drug testing, & psychological evaluation, and approval by the County Board.