Registered Nurse , RN - Grand Mesa Youth Services Center

Position: Registered Nurse I, RN I - Grand Mesa Youth Services Center

Location & Eligibility

The primary duties of this position are located within 30 miles of the state border; therefore, this position is exempt from the residency requirements. Applications will be considered from residents and non‑residents of Colorado.

About the Division of Youth Services (DYS)

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 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, and also contracts with private residential and non‑residential service providers throughout the State.

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Summary of Position

Deliver health care to detained and committed youth within the nurse‑s‑scope of practice. Primary care is provided by independent practitioners with responsibility for a continuum of care from initial assessment through development and maintenance of health care, including physical, psychiatric, and dental maintenance.

Key Responsibilities Clinical Duties

• Conduct initial nursing assessments and triage medical requests submitted by youth; review admission medical information.
• Administer nursing care and provide education for routine, urgent, and emergent medical situations within scope of practice.
• Obtain laboratory and diagnostic procedures, review results, and notify providers when indicated.
• Initiate and revise treatment plans for youth with special health care needs.
• Complete health appraisals, physical exams, vision/hearing screenings, in‑house laboratory testing, and immunizations per DYS policy.
• Document all encounters in an electronic medical record system and maintain confidentiality under HIPAA regulations.
• Initiate consultations or referrals to mid‑level providers or physicians when indicated and respond to emergent situations (Code Blue, Code Red).
• Deliver medications, medical supplies, and evaluate youth confined to specific buildings or rooms.

Medication and Treatment

• Order, prepare, and administer medications; maintain Medication Administration Records (MARs) and ensure accuracy; monitor for errors and report to the Lead Medical or Mid‑Level Provider.
• Educate youth and staff about medications, side effects, and compliance; investigate and document incidents of non‑compliance.
• Maintain inventory logs of medications and supplies; restock and check equipment such as first aid kits and AEDs.
• Assess vaccine status and administer vaccines per CDC and DYS protocols.

Mental Health

• Evaluate residents’ mental and behavioral health through interview, observation, and health appraisals.
• Provide basic mental health interventions and refer to psychiatrists or mental health resources as needed.
• Involve parents and legal guardians in care and treatment.

Health Education

• Assess and address knowledge deficits regarding health and hygiene; provide individual and group education.
• Tackle topics such as diet, exercise, sleep hygiene, stress management, dental care, STI prevention, safe sexual practices, and protective gear.
• Identify gender‑specific educational needs and ongoing staff education on medication and infection prevention.

Other Duties as Assigned

Additional responsibilities may be delegated or ordered by DYS physicians or mid‑level providers.

Minimum Qualifications

Education / Licensure / Certification /

Experience:

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

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

Highly Desirable Competencies

• Knowledge of current medications, their actions, and uses.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other professionals to achieve interdisciplinary goals.
• Ability to assess and coordinate community health…