Job Description

Posting number: 26-01398

Department: Sheriff

Job classification: CORRECTIONAL HEALTH NURSE II

Posting type: Open

Categories: Corrections, Public Safety, Nursing

Summary

*$10,000 Sign-On Bonus

The Fairfax County Sheriff's Office is committed to providing world-class public safety with honor, courage, and a dedication to service. With more than 600 professional men and women, we are one of the largest sheriff's offices in Virginia and serve a population of more than 1.1 million residents in one of the most diverse counties in the nation. We are seeking dedicated healthcare professionals who want to make a meaningful difference while providing quality care in a unique correctional healthcare environment.

This position works as a member of the Medical Services Branch at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, providing routine and emergency healthcare to individuals in custody. Responsibilities include obtaining health histories from newly incarcerated individuals, assessing patient needs, coordinating referrals to medical, dental, mental health, and substance use treatment providers, and ensuring medications are administered in accordance with established procedures and authorized orders. This position also serves as an assistant team supervisor, assisting with the supervision of medical personnel and providing guidance on policies, procedures, protocols, and discipline. Additionally, serves as the medical team training officer.

Schedule: The incumbent will be assigned to 12.5 hours shift on a squad schedule and will work 15 days per month, equal to 87.5 hours per two-week pay period. (Day shift is from 6:30 am - 7:00 pm and Night shift is from 6:30 pm to 7:00 am). Additional compensation may include evening/night differential, foreign language stipend, holiday pay, and environmental stipend. Annual performance increases may be provided as permitted by the County budget.

Note: Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.

*This position includes a sign-on bonus for fully qualified new county employees in the amount of $10,000 (full-time).

Examples of 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.)

• Serves as the team leader of the medical team on a 12.5-hour rotating shift;
• Provides guidance and support to lower-level medical staff in the administration of appropriate and effective medical care to inmates;
• Performs quality audits to ensure staff adheres to agency operating procedures and health care standards adopted by the American Correctional Association, the National Commission of Correctional Health Care, the Virginia Board of Corrections, and the Virginia Board of Health Professionals;
• Conducts new hire orientation, peer monitoring and training;
• Assists the supervisor with scheduling and the delegation of assignments;
• Assists the supervisor with developing and implementing new initiatives, operational processes, and/or procedures;
• 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.

Qualifications

(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 training principles and techniques;
• Knowledge of general operations in the Adult Detention Center;
• Knowledge of available community resources for referral, continuity of care and/or community reintegration;
• 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 effectively guide, educate and motivate nursing personnel;
• 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.

Supplemental information

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from a college or university accredited by the National League for Nursing with a bachelor's degree in nursing; plus, one year of post-licensure experience as a nurse; or an associate's degree accredited by the National League for Nursing or equivalent program; plus, two years of post-licensure experience as a nurse.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working as a nurse in an Emergency Room (ER) or an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
• Experience working as a nurse in correctional health.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Possession of a current license or a multistate licensure privilege to practice as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) (Required within 12 months).

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, pre-employment medical evaluation, polygraph exam, psychological exam, and clearance from the National Practitioners Database to the satisfaction of the employer.

This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.)

Must be able to work a shift work schedule which includes evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to quickly assess an emergency and respond appropriately. Duties are performed in a correctional facility medical environment. Maintain physical requirements needed to perform duties. All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others. We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for 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. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.

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