Correctional Health Nurse I

Job Announcement

*Correctional Health Nurse I $10,000 Hiring Bonus*

The Fairfax County Sheriff's Office is committed to providing world-class public safety with honor, courage, and a dedication to service. The Fairfax County Sheriff's Office is the largest sheriff's office in Virginia with over 600 professional men and women. We serve a population of over 1.1 million citizens in one of the most diverse counties in the nation.

We are looking for medical professionals who want to contribute to the outstanding quality of life that Fairfax County residents currently enjoy. Works as a member of the Medical Services Branch located in the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. As an individual and team contributor, provides patients with routine and emergency health care. Duties may include obtaining health histories on newly incarcerated patients and, when necessary, making referrals of patients to the staff physician, nurse practitioner, dentist, mental health professional, or specialist in alcohol and/or drug abuse treatment. Ensures all medication is administered in accordance with standard operating procedures and as ordered by the authorizing authority.

Schedule: The incumbent will be assigned to 12.5 hours shift on a squad schedule, will work 15 days per month, equal to 87.5 hours per two-week pay period. (Day shift from 6:30 am - 7:00 pm and Night shift from 6:30 pm to 7:00 am). The incumbent may receive additional pay, such as night and evening differential, foreign language stipend, holidays, environmental stipend. May receive annual performance increases as allowed by the county budget.

Note: Multiple positions will be filled using this advertisement. 

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

Provides direct health care services to Adult Detention Center inmates;

Conducts admission interviews to gather medical, mental health and social histories;

Performs medical, dental and mental health screenings and/or assessments;

Provides therapeutic nursing services including administers tests (e.g., PPD, pregnancy testing) and injections, dispensing medications, and collecting vital signs;

Reviews and interprets laboratory and diagnostic test results for advanced level practitioner follow-up;

Assesses and identifies contributing or co-occurring mental health issues, determines risk of harm to self and/or others;

Monitors medical status of patients through the acute and chronic disease management and the withdrawal/detoxification of alcohol and drugs processes;

Triages and refers the patients to the staff physician, nurse practitioner, dentist, mental health or substance use disorder professional;

Administers medication as ordered by the authorizing authority and in accordance with standard operating procedures;

Documents all treatment and counseling on the appropriate records;

Ensures proper protective equipment is worn or used;

• Maintains universal precautions, and promotes their observance by all agency staff.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

Knowledge of nursing standards, theories, principles, practices, methods, and protocols;

Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations, policy and procedures relating to the nursing services provision;

Knowledge of human growth and development, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology (e.g., medication therapeutic use, side effects, contraindications), preventive medicine, epidemiology, and nutrition;

Knowledge of federal and state pharmacology regulations specific to the storage, dispensing and administration of medications;

Knowledge of psychiatric, psychological, and/or sociological terminology and concepts;

Knowledge of substance use disorders, addiction signs and symptoms, assessment techniques, and applicable treatment interventions;

Ability to perform technical and complex nursing procedures (e.g., injections, venipuncture, blood pressure screening, STD testing, tube feeding, nebulization treatment, wound care assessment and dressing, and use of various medical equipment in delivering services to clients;

Ability to apply emergency medical techniques such as CPR, control of bleeding and airway maintenance;

Ability to assess and monitor the effects of medical and psychiatric medications;

Ability to maintain security of the work environment and comply with facility rules, regulations, policies and directives;

Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, public and private organizations, and community medical and mental health providers;

Ability to maintain composure in fast-paced, potentially stressful situations.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:    

Graduation from a college or university accredited by the National League for Nursing with a bachelor's degree in Nursing; or an associate's degree accredited by the National League for Nursing or equivalent program as determined by the Virginia State Board of Nursing.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:    
Prior experience working in an emergency room (ER) or Intensive Care Unit (ICU); experience working in correctional health. 

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED: 
 

• Basic Life Support (BLS) (Required)
• Registered Nurse License (VA) (Required)
• CCHP-RN Certification-Required within 12 months

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: 

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, credit check, driving record check, psychological exam, polygraph exam, pre-employment medical exam and tuberculosis exam to the satisfaction of the employer.   
 
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Employee is required to walk, stand, sit, bend, kneel, reach, climb stairs and carry equipment up to 25 pounds in weight. Uses hands to grasp, handle or feel. Position frequently communicates and must be able to exchange accurate information with others verbally and in writing. Visual acuity is required to read data on a computer monitor. Ability to operate keyboard driven equipment. All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
 
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include exercise.
 
The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity. 

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
 
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.