Registered Nurse, Ferris School Wilmington, DE

Make a Difference Where It Matters Most — Join Our Juvenile Corrections Nursing Team!

Christiana Care is seeking a compassionate, skilled Registered Nurse to join our dedicated medical team on our north campus location in Wilmington, DE. In this full‑time flex role (72h biweekly), you’ll deliver high‑impact, hands‑on nursing care to adolescents during some of the most defining moments of their lives. Our night‑shift RN serves as the on‑site clinical leader- providing direct medical care, managing urgent and emergent situations with confidence, and helping maintain a safe, therapeutic environment while supporting a culture of accountability, empathy, and professional excellence.

About Ferris School, New Castle County Detention Center & Residential Cottages

North Campus is home to three distinct, accredited juvenile treatment and detention programs that work together to provide safe, structured, and developmentally appropriate care for youth in Delaware.

Ferris School

Ferris is a secure, ACA‑accredited treatment facility serving up to 72 court‑committed males ages 13–18. Youth placed at Ferris typically present with serious or chronic offending histories and require intensive rehabilitative support. The program provides a highly structured environment that integrates education, clinical services, therapeutic programming, and individualized treatment planning. The average stay is six months, followed by a six‑week transition phase to support successful reentry.

New Castle County Detention Center (NCCDC)

NCCDC is a lock‑secure, ACA‑accredited detention facility staffed for 64 pre‑adjudicated youth, both male and female, ages 10–18. The center provides short‑term, safe, and developmentally appropriate supervision while youth await court proceedings, with a focus on stability, structure, and daily programming.

Residential Cottages

Located on the same Wilmington campus, the Residential Cottages are Level IV, staff‑secured treatment programs for post‑adjudicated male and female adolescents. These programs focus on therapeutic intervention, life skills, and community reintegration. Youth may participate in weekend Home Pass opportunities to support a smooth transition back into the community.

What Makes This Role Unique

• Self‑scheduling with a supportive and small, yet cohesive nursing team

• Highly competitive shift-differentials

• 24/7 leadership and on-call provider support

• Mission‑driven work with impact

• Opportunities for professional growth through the Christiana Care Clinical Ladder

• A workplace where your voice and expertise matter

Schedule

Full‑Time Flex (72 hrs/biweekly), 12‑hour Night Shifts (7P–7A) covering north campus

Weekends and Holidays on a Rotating basis with the team

Key Responsibilities

• Perform assessments, triaging, treatments, medication administration, and facilitating continuity of care by coordinating provider referrals and appointments as needed

• Conduct intake screenings and health evaluations for newly admitted youth

• Monitor patient conditions, vital signs, and treatment responses, document thoroughly

• Interpret and report abnormal test values, perform EKGs independently as indicated

• Respond to medical emergencies and provide crisis intervention

• Collaborate with MDs, APNs, behavioral health, and detention staff for care coordination

• Educate youth on health, hygiene, and wellness

• Compliance with VFC, PREA, Suicide Awareness/Response, ACA; including Audit prep

• Maintain accurate medical records in compliance with ACA standards

• Uphold infection control policies and maintain a safe high-risk clinical environment

• Communicate effectively with youth, families, and staff while maintaining boundaries

Education & Experience

• BSN preferred; ADN/ASN considered with 3-year BSN completion agreement

• Experience with adolescents who have endured complex trauma, pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, community health, emergency care and/or correctional setting encouraged.

• Strong assessment, critical thinking, and communication skills

• Ability to work independently and remain calm and confident during crisis

• Commitment to nonjudgmental, compassionate, patient‑centered care in secure setting

Requireme…