This position has a residency waiver and will be accepting applications from residents and non-residents of Colorado. This announcement is open to potential candidates who are legal residents of the United States. All legal residents of the United States are eligible to apply and compete. If appointed to a position, applicants from outside of Colorado will be required to relocate to Colorado prior to their start date, at their own expense.
*$25,000 Sign On Incentive **
This position will receive a short-staffing temporary pay differential of 8%
Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP)
CMHHIP is a 24 hour behavioral health acute care facility that is intended to provide a safe, secure, and therapeutic setting for patients with both psychiatric and medical issues. The services provided include evaluation and treatment for patients who are severely mentally ill, and the goal of this facility is to return patients to their optimal level of functioning and assist them in returning to the community as appropriate.
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Please note: This is an In person Position
This position is not assigned to a specific unit(s). The area of supervision for this position may change at any time based on the needs of the hospital and at the direction of Nursing Department leadership.
Schedule: Traditionally 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Position is overtime exempt and additional hours/days may be required based on hospital need.
About the Position:
The purpose of this position is to provide constant and consistent nursing and administrative oversight and management of nursing personnel. Provide management and direction to all direct care nursing staff and nursing supervisors on assigned units for all shifts. Serves as a resource and mentor to all nursing staff. Promote and maintain nursing staff efficiency and competency. Oversee the attainment, support, and achievement of unit/hospital/Nursing Department goals. Collaborate with other leaders across the hospital. Represent nursing on hospital-wide committees and work groups. Application of knowledge, expertise, and experience in providing safe and effective patient care. Respond for crisis intervention in the milieu and respond to all emergencies if available and follow up on all occurrences.
The ADON works together within multiple levels of specialty domains and professional services, as care and safety are coordinated across a continuum. The ADON adheres to and references the professional codes of conduct, regulatory agency standards, State Board of Nursing Regulations, professional codes of ethics, and scope of discipline practices, and guides practice to ensure various levels of nursing personnel function within their scope of practice. The ADON is responsible for communicating, implementing, and clarifying nursing policies at the unit level. Participates in and prepares nursing personnel for onsite surveys, monitors documentation, and ensures the quality of care is rendered according to the Nurse Practice Act, The Joint Commission, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, The Partnership Agreement and Side Agreement, and the Colorado Department Personnel Rules and Regulations.
This position is responsible for providing safe, appropriate nursing care on the units through effective coordination and timely reporting and follow-up on incidents. Frequent rounding on assigned units to identify the unit’s acuity needs to ensure patient and staff safety. This position is responsible for the overall cleanliness and readiness of each unit assigned to standards set forth by regulatory agencies on a daily basis. Duties in this position include:
Administrative:- Rounds assigned units daily, prioritizes time on units with critical incidents and higher acuity and splits the remaining time directly observing nursing care and providing just-in-time training/direction on all shifts.
- Attends morning report meetings daily for critical events to evaluate needs and follow up on action items
- Reaches out to the Staffing Office Nurse Manager when staffing needs are not met with current resources and the Unit Nurse Manager has exhausted all options
- Communicates a plan to meet general nursing personnel needs to the Director of Nursing and Unit Nurse Manager.
- Responsible for oversight of nursing care (both psychiatric and medical) provided on assigned units or when covering or supervising other units
- Ensures and maintains nursing standards of care
- Directs the implementation of interdepartmental activities at the unit level by representing the Nursing Department on hospital-wide committees
- Disseminates accurate information to those directly affected
- Operates independently in performing the full range of professional nursing tasks and problem-solving. Works with the Director of Nursing, Impact Administration Office, and Human Resources to recruit, hire and retain qualified nursing staff for assigned units
- Follows up with critical incidents, completing first-line investigation of Mistreatment/Abuse/Neglect/Exploitation (MANE) allegations and other State reportables
- Acts in accordance with Appointing Authority delegation
- Assists higher-level Appointing Authority with investigations, documentation, delivery, and other tasks as applicable.
- Assess/investigate any claims of sexual harassment and involves public safety/Quality Support Services/Human Resources when necessary. Reports violations of Nurse Practice Act to the Director of Nursing and the State Board of Nursing.
- Keeps the Director of Nursing apprised of all of the above for units supervised.
- Coordinates with peers and notify the DON of assigned unit coverage for any scheduled and unscheduled leave. DON/CNO may assign or change units based on hospital needs
- Covers as acting Director of Nursing when assigned
- Rotates as the Administrator on Call several times during the year.
- Assists Nurse Manager with patient needs including physical needs, psychiatric needs, and as a patient advocate
Management:- Directs/supervises/monitors and is responsible for all full-time and/or part-time and agency nursing staff in the assigned units
- Provides direct supervision of the Nurse Manager(s) performance
- Ensures nursing staff they supervise provide services/treatments per licensure requirements and governing bodies
- Responsible for ensuring nursing staff follow the Nursing Standard of Care/Colorado Nurse Practice Act or Colorado Psychiatric Technician Practice Act/Nursing Process
- Responsible for monitoring and ensuring assignments/duties of the Nurse Managers are completed/performed/documented correctly to include all aspects of their job description.
- Remains within their Appointing Authority delegation over personnel actions, poor job performance, or other personnel issues that may arise
- Provides information and assists with delivery and oversight of adherence to corrective action.
- Escalates potential disciplinary action to the Director of Nursing or designee
- May be assigned to assist in the investigation of personnel concerns
- Provides ongoing support, follow-up, and education to staff related to performance improvement.
- Utilizes knowledge of State Personnel Rules and Regulations as a basis for providing guidance and resolution of personnel-related issues
- Reports violations of Nurse Practice Act to the Director of Nursing and the State Board of Nursing.
- Collaborates with non-nursing on requests related to performance issues regarding programming
- Keeps the Director of Nursing apprised of all of the above
Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement (QA/PI):- Responsible for administrative/management of nursing staff, clinical direction/supervision of nursing staff, Quality Assurance/Process Improvement (QAPI) activities to ensure improvement and compliance in all areas, staff development, staff competency, and interdisciplinary coordination
- Implements actions to maximize the quality of patient care at the unit level by directing and coordinating the timely reporting of statistical and quality assurance data
- Reviewing patient occurrences, incident reports, directing completion of patient record and unit audits, developing performance measurement tools at the unit level, and taking responsibility for performance improvement initiatives
- Assures nursing participation in interdisciplinary QA/PI activities at the unit level
- Ensures monitoring, evaluation, and follow-up on QA/PI activities
- Monitors and follows up on unit deficiencies
- Initiates/develops a plan of correction/action for any below threshold percentages of data to achieve compliance with standards of practice
- Prior to process change, review evidence-based-practice standards
- Ensures plan of action is followed and tracked providing the information to the Quality Management Department (QMD) and/or the Nursing Department’s Quality Databases
- Monitors the need for QA/PI initiatives and reviews/discusses them in the Nursing Operational Committee
- Analyze process and outcomes
- Collects reports, verifies data and reviews statistical trends related to patient care and by directing plans and action to improve processes
- Reviews all QA/PI trends with Nurse Managers and treatment team for ongoing awareness and to identify barriers
- Responsible for peer review activities for nursing which focus on qualitative nursing clinical practice and professional competence
- Reviews critical patient/environment occurrences daily in the Critical Incident Committee meeting headed by QMD, and reviews QA/PI for possible training deficiencies
- Provides data and performance improvement plan and action to the Director of Nursing
Patient Care/ Nursing Care:- Assumes 24-hour responsibility for the oversight of nursing care provided and maintenance of a safe, secure and therapeutic environment
- Anticipates potential problems and responds to correct personnel and environmental deficits, by facilitating staff communication related to patient care, and by overseeing patient health care needs
- Directs, implements, and reviews nursing care provided on assigned units’ verifies compliance with standards of nursing care, departmental standards, unit standards, and hospital standards. This is accomplished through nursing care reviews with Nurse Managers, independent reviews and audits, knowledge of accepted standards, leading by example, and ensuring Nurse Managers are conducting unit-based meetings and trainings.
- Cascades and disseminates accurate information in a positive manner to Nurse Managers in preparation for unit-based meetings
- Seeks clarification from DON or other sources as needed
- Evaluate and follow up on concerns related to nursing care and incidents
- Intervenes in critical situations as necessary, which may include physically restraining aggressive, assaultive patients or responding to medical emergencies. Provide follow-up to DON post medical emergencies to include specifics on any acute-hospital transfer
- Ensures staff counsels and educates patients on medications, physical care needs, and psychiatric care needs during group therapies, Plan of Care Reviews, Plan of Care Formulations, 1:1 therapies, talking, and educating the patient's family
- Ensures staff are accountable for carrying out all unit programming
- Attends unit Morning Meetings daily to remain up-to-date on patient/unit challenges and as a representative of the nursing department
- Follows and maintains Infection Control standards and regulations
- Acts as a role model for nursing staff (professionalism, educating, teaching through positive code of conduct)
- Is knowledgeable in Patient Rights and mental health legal issues
- Maintains current knowledge and complies with policy and procedure in these areas.
- Demonstrates understanding of the role of the Patient Rights specialist and utilizes this person as a resource when necessary
Other Duties as Assigned: - Any other duties that may arise that need to be completed by this position
Minimum Qualifications:- Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution
- Current, valid licensure as a Registered Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing or any state participating in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC)
AND
Five (5) years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work
assigned to the position, one of which must have been at the level of a unit supervisor or equivalent
Substitutions:
Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis
Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis
Preferred Qualifications:- prior State experience
experience in a Psychiatric, Mental, or Behavioral setting, and have a basic knowledge of personnel issues such as corrective (some sort of progressive discipline), employee disputes, performance management FLMA, ADA, and FLSA
strong supervisory and communication skills, with a proven ability to excel independently and as a member/leader
able to demonstrate how to manage staff conflict, knowledge related to hospital accreditations, describe decision-making, describe staff engagement and retention efforts, and prescribe self-care to prevent burnout
Special Requirement:- This position is responsible for being available via cell phone for patient care and business needs at any time
Conditions of Employment: - Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal, or financial relationships with patients either during or any time after hospitalization, even if the patient requests or initiates such a relationship. All relationships with current or former patients must be disclosed on your application;
- Successfully pass all modules of the CMHHIP New Employee Orientation core curriculum to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics
- Possess the physical ability to successfully complete MANDT and CPR
- Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;
- Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled containment/manual physical holds;
- Withstand impact on own body using an ASP shield
- Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for using a defensive tactic;
- Kneel on one or both knees and stand up again with multiple repetitions;
- Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety
- Seize, hold, control or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury
- Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently
- Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations
- Shift Work – Explain: May be required to work evening or weekend shifts, holidays, voluntary or mandatory overtime both in the clinic, or inpatient units throughout CMHHIP
- Ability to read and comprehend the English language; effectively and fluently communicates in English, both verbally and in writing;
- Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold) which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings;
- Willing and able to travel
- 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire
- Annual influenza vaccination
- Former employees of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) who were disciplinary terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on your application and may not be eligible for employment at CDHS
APPEAL RIGHTS:If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email, US Mail, faxed or hand delivered within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board go to spb.colorado.gov or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.
How to Apply
The Assessment Process
For additional recruiting questions, please contact jazzma.gamboa@state.co.us
Sign-On Incentive:
Upon approval, a sign-on incentive based on position of $25,000 (prorated if a part-time position), will be given in five payments over the course of one year:
$5,000 upon hire
$5,000 at three months of employment (90 days)
$5,000 at six months of employment (180 days)
$5,000 at nine months of employment (270 days)
$5,000 at twelve months of employment (365 days)
These incentives will be available on a funds-available basis
About Us:
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:
*Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more
information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.
Our Values:
We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.
Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.
We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
ADAA Accommodations:CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.
THE CAMPUS OF THE COLORADO MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE AT PUEBLO IS TOBACCO FREE
~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~
~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~
