Registered Nurse (RN) - Corrections

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a full-time RN to join our team. By providing health screening and services ranging from basic first aid to more serious management of medical conditions and needs, our team works collaboratively to meet the medical needs of those in our care. We believe every employee at the Sheriff’s Office plays a critical role in public safety and service to the community. Throughout 2022, our Institutions Division provided services and supervision to more than 7,000 adults in custody. The ideal candidate will have great communication skills and be willing to work in a team environment. We are a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

WAGES

$36.87 - $49.39 Hourly

*Hourly rate negotiable

Shift/Weekend Differential:

• Additional $3.92 per hour for hours worked between 6:00 pm and 11:59 pm
• Additional $3.85 per hour for hours worked between 12:00 am and 5:59 am
• Additional $1.65 per hour for hours worked between Saturday at 12:01 am to Sunday at 11:59 pm

Corrections Nurse Incentive:

Employees working in the classification of corrections nurse for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office are eligible for 2.5% incentive pay upon successful completion of county trial service, and an additional 3% commencing with the fourth year of service in the classification for a total of 5.5%.

This position is represented by the Marion County Law Enforcement Association (MCLEA). In addition to the salary range listed above, RN’s with the Sheriff’s Office receive a generous benefit package including:

• Retirement Medical Trust with employer contributions
• Medical and dental insurance with generous employer contribution (Marion County pays 95%)
• PERS & OPSRP Retirement (Marion County pays employee's 6% contribution)
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 11 paid holidays per year
• 1 paid commissioners holiday per year
• 2 paid personal days per year
• Employer provided Group Term Life Insurance
• Employer provided Long-Term Disability Plan
• Voluntary Term Life Insurance
• Voluntary Short-Term Disability
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan
• Employee Assistance Program

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Serve as a professional nurse in the county corrections facility; perform a variety of nursing duties in a correctional setting, exercising considerable independent judgment in all aspects of the medical program; perform physical examinations of inmates and treat or refer them appropriately; dispense or provide for dispensing of medications under the direction of a licensed physician.

Accurate and thorough chart documentation. Nursing notes are clear, concise and thorough reflecting:

• Signs and symptoms observed
• Nursing assessment
• Plan of actions – per standing order protocol, RN on-call, RN
• Education of adults in custody
• Expected or observed outcome
• Noted changes
• Unusual occurrences
• Outside communications
• Explanation of refusal for treatment
• Discharge summary – completed on clients transferred to other facilities

Accurate and thorough nursing assessment. Professional nurses will be competent and knowledgeable in assessment of physical, mental and emotional status of adults in custody including:

• Neurological examination
• Ears, nose and throat assessment
• Respiratory assessment
• Cardiovascular assessment
• Musculoskeletal assessment
• Gastrointestinal examination
• Genitourinary assessment including sexually transmitted disease
• Skin assessment
• Mental and emotional status and counseling
• Dental condition assessment

Accurate and thorough skills and knowledge of nursing procedures. Professional nurses will be skilled and knowledgeable in technical procedures including but not limited to:

• CPR, including A.E.D.
• First Aid
• Emergency response to unstable adults in custody without knowledge of etiology or location on campus.
• Vital signs
• Oxygen administration – n.c./mask/ambu-bag
• Venipuncture
• Contusion – decubitus care
• Wound care including sterile and non-sterile dressing changes
• Treatment with heat or cold direct application
• Injections
• Setting up and delivery of medications (oral, rectal, IM, S.L., S.Q., topical)
• Specimen collections
• Splinting and applications
• Eye and ear flushing
• Weight and measuring
• Delousing
• Enemas and fecal impaction removal
• Chest physiotherapy
• Colostomy care
• Screening and reporting communicable disease
• Universal blood and body fluid precautions (standard)
• Basic isolation techniques
• Catheterization
• Equipment operation: Doppler, EKG, Otoscope, Ophthalmic scope, autoclave, radio communication, computer, wheelchair/crutches, phone, photocopy machine, suction machine, splint placement, application restraints, treatment for capstan and fire extinguishers.
• Respiratory care including tracheostomy maintenance, incentive spirometry and chest physiotherapy.
• Assists or directs adults in custody in skill building to assume self-care in daily living.

Medical Department operations are consistent and professional. The professional nurse demonstrates the thorough capability and skill to be proficient in the following areas:

• Assessment and follow through on all nursing contact and appropriate reporting of information to the physician
• Consistency in documentation
• Security of narcotics.
• Security of equipment and keys.
• Assuring consultation with outside agencies when necessary
• Equipment check.
• Minor surgery with the physician.
• Interpretation of, reporting and follow-up care of normal or abnormal laboratory results and diagnostic testing with the physician.
• Recognizing and reporting dietary needs for special medical circumstance.
• Maintaining confidentiality of adults in custody's condition and medical records.
• Maintaining functions of unit by assuring the following occurs: (1) Adequate number of forms available, (2) Medications and supplies stocked, (3) Phone calls professionally responded to, (4) Communication of unfinished business to oncoming shift.

The professional nurse will adhere to the security principles and procedures of the facility:

• Respond to intake for assessment and triage of adults in custody with potential or apparent medical problem.
• Respond to all medical crisis and man-down situations.
• Respond to escape, fire and natural disaster.
• Write quality assurance reports for medical errors.
• Write supplemental reports for adults in custody issues requiring disciplinary response.
• Experienced RN may assume acting supervisor role when necessary.
• Willing to work towards conflict resolution in all circumstances.
• Relinquishes control of unit and security operation to the corrections staff.
• Capable of adhering to basic security skills of person when working with adults in custody populations.
• Willing to be coached and trained in all aspects of professional behavior.

Pharmacy upkeep and medication dispensing:

• Maintain narcotic records and accurate account.
• Order appropriate medication through state contract distributor or local pharmacy.
• Complete billing paperwork upon receipt of medications and supplies into the unit.
• Assure all medications have visible out date written on the outside container.
• Schedule outdate checks to assure all medications are not expired.
• Review stop dates on all medications administration records and assign for physician chart.
• Maintain Oregon State Board of Pharmacy for refrigeration of medicine shelving, dispensing and labeling.
• Develop and maintain all pharmacy forms.
• Maintain cost effectiveness.
• Maintenance of clean, orderly and adequately stocked medication cart.
• Dispensing of all medications as described by rules and regulations of Oregon State Board of Nursing.
• Restocks medications and supplies for easy and clear accessibility to medication nurse.
• Assist as needed on quality assurance checks on all medication administration records forms when requested.
• Special unit C4 medical rounds, segregation rounds and documentation.
• Update dietary information sheet.
• Perform communicable disease screening and documentation.
• Order medical supplies.
• Sterilize surgical equipment.
• Complete all physician orders ("treatment").
• Conduct sick call.
• Conduct triage of health care requests on shift.
• Develop individualized patient care plans consistent with standing orders or medical orders written by the physician. Report and revise the care plan as indicated by signs and symptoms observed.

 Maintains facility and county standards of operation at all times:

• Maintain sanitation within department.
• Maintain accurate and thorough medical charts, including timely chart audits, physician review and filing of all information.
• Maintain harmonious working relationships and communications within and outside the facility and interprets nursing services when appropriate.
• Is available to work varied shifts to assure nursing coverage of a 24-hour facility.
• Maintain ethical standard of the Marion County Corrections Facility, Marion County and the Oregon State Board of Nursing.
• Maintain the Marion County Standards of the vision and principles of Direct Supervision.
• Recognize and adhere to the limitations of their nursing practice and act within the scope of their license at all times.
• Respect and adhere to the authority of the RN supervisor and MD and will error always on the side of safety of the patients and staff.
• Maintain open, direct and thorough communication with RN staff, supervisor, and physician regarding all aspects of patient care.

Other miscellaneous duties

• Attend infirmary change of shift reports for nursing.
• Participate in unit briefings.
• Process e-mail and adults in custody kytes.
• Attend training and meetings as required.
• Possess a working knowledge of and compliance with policies and procedures of medical department and facility, adults in custody rules, ORS statutes and Board of Nursing requirements for practice.
• Report significant medical changes or problems to RN on call or nursing supervisor and physician.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

1. Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
2. Any satisfactory combination of work, education, training, or experience relevant to the position, as determined by Marion County.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of a license to practice as a registered professional nurse in the State of Oregon at the time of appointment.
• Ability to complete training on the security and supervision of adults in custody within six months after initial hire.
• This is a safety sensitive/special needs position. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to pass a post offer drug screen, including testing for marijuana. The Marion County Drug and Alcohol Use and Testing Policy can be found at:http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/policy.aspx?p=policy&pid=518
• The finalist for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check, including finger printing; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this position.
• This is a full-time position, which is eligible for overtime.
• Typical Work Schedule: Works in a 24-hour, 7-day a week operation, with rotating shift schedules and workstations. This includes working day and swing shifts, weekends, holidays and overtime as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of nursing skills and practices; public health laws and regulations. Good knowledge of criminal and civil liability associated with the practice of medicine in a correctional facility; procurement and maintenance of equipment and supplies used in the provision of medical care services. Ability to function independently with minimum supervision; act in a professional manner within a secured environment; work flexible hours/shifts; respond to stress and medical emergencies with haste and sound judgment; maintain medical records; write clear and concise reports; communicate effectively in both oral and written form; operate a computer; operate medical equipment; work harmoniously with professional leaders in the corrections and health disciplines, with other employees, and the inmate population.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Continuously sees close and distant objects within normal parameters; continuously sees with peripheral vision within normal parameters; demonstrates sufficient depth perception; differentiates between colors; possesses olfactory senses within normal parameters; hears within normal range; speaks clearly; maintains a seated position for extended periods of time; walks for extended periods of time; climbs stairs and/or inclines repeatedly; bends, stoops, crawls and kneels; lifts and carries up to 25 lbs.; pulls or pushes up to 50 lbs.; works in an area with limited ventilation; works in an area that may have chemical agents released into the air; writes legibly; uses hands to grasp, handle and manipulate objects; implements finger dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers rather than whole hands or arms, for extended periods of time, such as a keyboard; engages in repetitive motions of hands and wrists for extended periods of time; works flexible hours during the day and week; works day, afternoon, evening and night shifts. Wears personal protective equipment when performing job tasks that increase the risk of exposure to blood and body fluids.

To learn more about this job classification at Marion County click here.