County of Riverside
Institutional Nurse - Full Time Positions - Multiple Locations (Finance)
Required Licenses & Certifications
The Institutional Nurse is the journey level classification in the Institutional Nurse series and reports to either a Senior or Supervising Institutional Nurse. Incumbents are registered nurses who provide routine and emergency nursing services in a correctional/institutional setting. Incumbents are assigned to the Riverside University Health System-Correctional Health Services (RUHS-CHS) and perform the entire range of professional nursing duties with a minimum of assistance or supervision from other medical personnel. The Institutional Nurse differs from the Supervising Institutional Nurse in that the latter supervises a number of professional nurses and has charge of a nursing program, which may encompass more than one correctional facility.Examples of Essential Duties (may include but not limited to)
• Plan and provide professional nursing care to juveniles or adults in a correctional facility, including administration of medication, therapeutic agents, treatments, disease prevention, and restorative measures ordered by a physician; assist physicians and other healthcare providers with performing physical examinations; respond to patient court orders as appropriate; implement standardized nursing protocols as directed; monitor inmates' health status.
• Make routine medical observations on a daily basis and refer patients to a physician as necessary.
• Evaluate effectiveness of nursing care and treatment regimen; collaborate with physicians and other healthcare providers; refer adult and juvenile inmates to appropriate healthcare providers; provide clinical supervision to Licensed Vocational Nurses and Nursing Assistants to ensure quality care; monitor work areas for safety and cleanliness.
• Initiate treatment in medical emergencies; conduct quality control audits and perform minor wound care.
• Assist physicians and other healthcare providers in conducting sick calls and in the examination and treatment of patients; assist physicians and other healthcare providers with medical and/or minor medical procedures; make routine medical observations on a daily basis.
• Chart treatment of patients, and record and report significant changes in condition and general progress of patients; maintain patient records and medical data.
• Advise staff and counsel patients and their families regarding medical problems and proper healthcare methods; may instruct institutional staff in emergency first aid techniques.
• May determine restrictions on physical activities of patients according to healthcare standards established by the State of California.Education: Successful completion of the education required by the State of California to obtain a valid license and certification.
Experience: Equivalent to two years of full-time experience as a registered nurse in an acute care hospital, healthcare agency, or correctional healthcare facility. Experience gained as an Interim Permit Nurse may be credited toward meeting the required experience. (A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in nursing or a national certification in a nursing specialty may substitute for one year of the required experience.)
Knowledge of: The principles, techniques and procedures used in professional nursing; medical terminology; hospital and clinic routine; the uses and effects of medicines and narcotics.
Ability to: Perform the entire range of professional nursing duties and responsibilities; plan and carry out a program of nursing care for detainees; work under limited medical supervision; prepare and maintain concise and complete records and reports; establish and maintain effective relationships with physicians, detainees and co-workers.
Other Requirements
License/Certificate: Must possess and maintain a current valid license to practice as a registered nurse in the State of California. (Persons eligible for certification as a registered nurse in the State of California may be employed pending receipt of license.)
Possession of valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certificates issued by the American Heart Association for Professional healthcare providers.
Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required.
Must maintain a Sheriff's Security Clearance for access to all correctional facilities.
Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of both a pre-employment physical exam, including a drug/alcohol test, and a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment.)
Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.For further information regarding this posting, please contact Denise DeCamp, (ddecamp@rivco.org).