Charge Nurse RN II - Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan (Denver)

Salary : $3,606.40 - $5,049.60 Biweekly
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: IIC 00205 10/19/26
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OBH - CMHIFL
Opening Date: 09/09/2026
Closing Date: 10/30/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address: Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan 3520 W. Oxford Ave. Denver, CO 80236
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Department Information
This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
New Compact Rule:

Starting Jan. 2, 2024, if you have a multistate license and change your primary state of residence to another state within the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), you must apply for a license in that state within 60 days.

If this latter step is not completed within the allotted time frame, your previous license may expire. This puts you at risk of practicing without a license. As an example, if you are a registered nurse with a multistate license from Arizona practicing in Colorado and you move to Colorado, you have 60 days to apply to Colorado's Board of Nursing for a new multistate license. These changes were part of the final rules passed by the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators at its annual conference in August. The eNLC allows for mobility and creates a more robust workforce by allowing nurses to practice in Colorado with licenses from other compact states.
Please note: This posting will be used to fill multiple postings. Position shifts available for: Days, Nights, and Weekends
We offer shift differentials for Nights and Weekend between 14 - 20% above base pay!
Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

Description of Job
Location: 3520 W Oxford Avenue, Denver, CO 80236
Full-Time, On-Site

Please note: This posting will be used to fill multiple postings. Position shifts available for: Days, Nights, and Weekends.
We are seeking an exceptional individual interested interested in joining our nursing team!
Our ideal candidate is a caring leader who will provide professional skilled nursing activities in a mental health setting that include: acute care, chronic support, assessment, and interventions. Although this position will be assigned to a specific shift and unit, you occasionally may be required to work any unit.
Patient Care:

• Assesses, plans, coordinates, provides and evaluates nursing care of patients with psychiatric and medical conditions, documenting all pertinent data.
• Utilizes nursing theory and concepts to develop nursing plans of care and therapeutic interventions to support patients' recovery, such as individual counseling, psychoeducational and teaching groups, and milieu management.
• Communicates the nursing plan of care to the interdisciplinary team.
• Assures that appropriate documentation is completed.
• Assures that essential information is shared from shift to shift and makes rounds to assess patients' psychiatric and medical statuses.
• Notifies medical staff (physicians and licensed independent practitioners) of changes in patient condition and need for evaluations and orders.
• Reports patient care concerns to supervisor and physicians, as indicated.
• Directs, coordinates and implements medical and psychiatric crisis intervention in clinical emergencies assuring compliance with nursing standards and policies/procedures. (e.g., de-escalation, seclusion/restraint, cardiopulmonary resuscitation.)

Milieu Management:

• Assures a safe, therapeutic environment for patients using nursing theory and judgment by planning and implementing milieu management techniques such as pro-actively anticipating problems, planning interventions strategies and assigning responsibilities.
• Provides clinical and administrative supervision of nursing staff on duty.
• Assures that interventions are implemented and assures that the care provided meets or exceeds community and professional standards.
• Coordinates provision of replacement staff and extra staff for high acuity, as indicated

Medication Administration:

• Administers and/or provides back up to the nurse assigned to administer medication, including transcription and clarification of orders.
• Assures that medications are administered in terms of need, effectiveness, side effects and drug interactions using nursing judgment, standards of care and policy and procedure.
• Follows all policies and procedures for medical order transcription and medication administration documentation.

Supervision and Delegation to Licensed and Unlicensed Assistive Personnel:

• Accountable for the work of nursing staff, mental health clinicians, nursing students, orientees and others through delegation of work assignments, assuring timely completion of work, providing clinical leadership and teaching clinical interventions.
• Provides clinical and administrative supervision of 2-5 nursing staff on a continuous basis as well as supervision of all nursing staff on duty during specific shift.
• Orients new staff and serves as preceptor for students

Patient Teaching:

• Assesses and teaches preventative health care, illness management, coping skills, social skills, living skills, and indications/side effects of medications to patient and family.
• Supports patient in building skills and improving their sense of self-efficacy.

Interdisciplinary treatment planning and treatment implementation:

• Provides nursing input, as a member of the inter-disciplinary team, into treatment planning and unit programming.
• Serves as a liaison/communication link between patient, family, doctor, other health professionals, ancillary staff, and supervisors exchanging information and clarifying rationales for plans and interventions.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Other duties as assigned

Work environment:
Sometimes difficult customers/patients, locked units, interactive, fast-paced, dynamic, team-oriented, requirement to make immediate and critical decisions, and a high level of accountability for patient care. High level of professional responsibility for the employee to maintain updated skills, knowledge, abilities and competencies necessary to the position through continuing education, clinical supervision, literature review and participating in discipline and team development.
This entry level position offers great opportunity for advancement! Ask us how!
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:

Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:
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
Two (2) years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position

Substitutions:
Appropriate education will substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience on a year-for-year basis
Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the Minimum Qualifications and Required Skills outlined above, our ideal candidate will possess the following Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to understand and apply the nursing process to provide adequate patient care.
• Demonstrated ability to understand treatment plans and provide appropriate interventions.
• Demonstrated ability to direct the shift through training, mentorship and development.
• A strong work ethic based on a foundation of self-motivation, loyalty, honesty, and integrity.
• Dependable, responsible, and adaptable.

Essential Attributes:

• Must be able to see and hear to observe, address, and respond to potential breaches in safety and security Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person, and/or restraint situations.
• Must be able to lift to 50+ pounds on occasion.

CDHS Selection Process Explanation:
Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs. per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.

• Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:
• Relevant years of state service experience.

Minimum Qualification Screening Process:

A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."
You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.
Comparative Analysis Process - Structured Application Review
After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing.
Your Work Experience/Job Duties
Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.

If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.

Supplemental Questions:
Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

Appeal Rights:
You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.
• You can find the official appeal form here.
• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:
  
  • By email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), or
  • Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or
  • Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or
  • Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.

Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

• At (303) 866-3300, or
• Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

Supplemental Information
How to apply to the State of Colorado
The Assessment Process