Registered Nurse - Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan; Denver

Description of Job

Location:

3520 W Oxford Avenue, Denver, CO 80236. Full‑time, on‑site. Multiple shifts available:
Day, Night, Weekend, and Float.

• Assess, coordinate, provide and evaluate nursing care of patients with psychiatric and medical conditions, documenting all pertinent data.
• Utilize nursing theory and concepts to develop nursing plans of care and therapeutic interventions, including individual counseling, psycho‑educational and teaching groups, and milieu management.
• Communicate the nursing plan of care to the interdisciplinary team.
• Ensure appropriate documentation is completed and essential information is shared shift to shift; make rounds to assess patients’ psychiatric and medical statuses.
• Notify medical staff of changes in patient condition and need for evaluations and orders.
• Report patient care concerns to supervisor and physicians as indicated.
• Direct, coordinate and implement medical and psychiatric crisis intervention in clinical emergencies, assuring compliance with nursing standards and policies/procedures (e.g., de‑escalation, seclusion/restraint, cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
• Escort patients to activities and appointments on grounds and in the community, including driving patients to appointments.
• Assume responsibility for paperwork, assuring confidentiality.
• Determine whether the needs of a patient returning from a general hospital can be safely met by nursing staff in terms of staff competency, appropriate equipment, and level of staffing during own shift and proximal shifts.
• Collaborate with Nurse Manager and treatment team to recommend changes in program scheduling to benefit patients.
• Assure a safe, therapeutic environment for patients by planning and implementing milieu management techniques such as proactively anticipating problems, planning interventions, and assigning responsibilities.
• During specific shifts function as Charge Nurse, providing clinical and administrative supervision of nursing staff on duty. Coordinate provision of replacement staff and extra staff for high acuity as indicated.
• Evaluate and administer medication, considering need, effectiveness, side effects and drug interactions, using nursing judgment, standards of care, and policy and procedure.
• Follow all policies and procedures for medical order transcription and medication administration documentation.
• Accountable for the work of nursing staff, mental health clinicians, nursing students, orientees and others through delegation of work assignments, ensuring timely completion of work and providing clinical leadership and education.
• Assess and teach preventive health care, illness management, coping skills, social skills, living skills, and indications/side effects of medications to patients and families.
• Provide nursing input as a member of the inter‑disciplinary team, contributing to treatment planning and unit programming.
• Serve as a liaison/communication link between patient, family, doctor, other health professionals, ancillary staff, and supervisors to exchange information and clarify rationales for plans and interventions.
• Maintain updated skills, knowledge, abilities and competencies necessary to the position through continuing education, clinical supervision, literature review, and participation in discipline and team development.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Current, valid licensure as a Registered Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing or any state participating in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).
• Minimum of 21 years of age.

• Full background check and reference check required.
• Shift work – may work day, evening, or night shifts.
• Essential Services Designation – required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. Driver’s License.
• May be exposed to bodily fluids or caustic chemicals.
• Former state employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the…