Salary: $44.23 - $61.92 Hourly
Location : Pueblo, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: IIB 01052 08/05/2026
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OBH - CMHIP
Opening Date: 08/05/2026
Closing Date: 8/30/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
Primary Physical Work Address: In Person: Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo, 1600 W. 24th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003
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
Nurse I - Nursing Residency Program - Full Time

Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP)

A Shift. Days 6:30a-7p or B Shift.Nights 6:30p to 7a - Days worked, flex days vary

100% In-Person

This position is required to work at the assigned work location during your scheduled work times.

Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.
This position is open ONLY to Colorado State Residents

Candidate, please keep in mind that even though you may have applied for a position on a specific unit as indicated in this announcement and if the hiring manager chooses to extend a job offer to you, the hiring manager may make you a job offer within the same classification for a different unit within the hospital. These opportunities will be based on vacancies at the time of offer and business needs. All work locations evaluated will remain within CMHHIP.
EXPECTED START: October 2026

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
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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Description of Job

RN Residency Program Objective:

This position will provide novice RN's the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to provide high quality mental health care within a safe and secure environment. The RN Residency Program is a one-year program that encompasses training to improve discretionary judgment, organizational and time management skills, through an explicit curriculum inclusive of orientation, mentorship supported by current seasoned RN staff, reflection, theory, practical hands-on experiences and an evidence-based project to aid learning and build confidence.
Clinical Direction:

• Responsible for the direction of all nursing staff on the assigned shift and unit while working in conjunction with the Nurse Manager
• Helps direct assignments in conjunction with the staff schedule by utilizing knowledge of acuity, and pool staff to maximize the quality of care given to unit patients on the unit.
• Personnel needs are communicated to the Nurse Manager immediately
• Responsible for helping the Nurse Manager to ensure all nursing services provided on the assigned unit are delivered correctly
• Ensure all nursing assignments and duties are completed and in compliance with CMHHIP policies and psychiatric and medical nursing standards, licensure requirements and governing bodies while working in conjunction with the Nurse Manager.
• Unit nursing staff is notified promptly of changes to processes, policies and procedures through communication methods to include Cornerstone Rosters, meetings, email and individual contact. Individual clinical supervision sessions are conducted regularly
• Communication is conducted regularly with other disciplines, department leadership regarding nursing directives and disseminates information as appropriate.
• Interpretation of other leadership communication is received to understand changes that may or may not directly impact the nursing department
• Functions as the charge nurse for the shift and reports any injury of staff from assaultive/combative patients, other employee absences, and/or any other safety or nursing concerns to the Nurse Managers promptly
• Utilizes resources available in the Staffing Office.

Department Standards:

• Maintains nursing standards of care for their assigned shift on the unit by creating and maintaining processes to communicate and follow up with assigned staff so that standards are kept in compliance
• Must adhere to CDHS Code of Conduct and CMHHIP Code of Ethics. Maintains current knowledge of new policies, standards, updates, literature related to nursing and specialty areas is maintained and communicated to subordinates.
• Nursing supervisors are notified promptly of issues on the unit with patients and nursing staff members
• Works collaboratively with all departments and provides assistance when needed
• Provides guidance and direction for daily cross shift report, directs nursing care and communication to shift personnel
• Assures the unit(s) is directed and staffed appropriately according to hospital procedure along with assuring staffing levels are maintained and accurate

Staff Development/ Competencies:

• implements actions to maximize the productivity of assigned nursing personnel by mentoring, training, leadership, and providing feedback through immediate feedback and guidance
• Ensures assigned staff's knowledge and fluency with electronic system BEHR, Cornerstone assignments to include mandatory rosters and training
• Promotes staff development and training by supporting staff compliance with hospital wide mandatory training
• Directs staff to follow various manuals, standards and regulations to include but not limited to: DSM, Pharmacy Formulary, Treatment Plans, Infection Control Manual, Physicians Orders, Court orders, Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation Standards, Environment of Care Manual, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Safety Data Sheets, Colorado State Personnel Procedure Manual, Affirmative Action policy, Colorado Workers Compensation guidelines, Rainbow book and Emergency Guides, ADA statutes, Colorado Alliance for the Mentally Ill Recommendations, Patients Rights Handbook
• Responsible to act as a resource for staff
• Provide direction and support to the assigned shift on the unit
• Knows and follows regulatory guidelines

Patient Care/ Nursing Care:

• Responsible for the nursing care provided on the assigned shift of a unit and maintenance of a safe, secure and therapeutic environment.
• He/She promptly responds to patient's psychiatric and/or medical issues, participates in Trauma Informed Care initiatives and understands and promotes its principles, implements, audits and reviews nursing care provided on the shift/unit.
• This is accomplished through providing follow up for proper nursing care; ie., documentation for seclusion or seclusion and restraint monitoring, proper procedure for respiratory services, oxygen and oxygen equipment, and laboratory services after hours and obtaining data from the AED.
• Participates and ensures staff correctly identify patient prior to administration of medications, treatments, blood testing, or starting an invasive procedure.
• Follows and maintains Infection control standards and regulations
• Evaluates concerns related to nursing care plan by assessing, identifying, planning, implementing, evaluating, and revising the nursing care given based on the nursing history.
• Utilize Patient Rights for mental health legal issues and complies with policy and procedure in these areas
• Provide intervention in critical situations as necessary
• 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
• Provide coverage on the shift/unit.
• Ensures a safe milieu for patient treatment
• Reports staff and patient issues to the Nurse Manager if urgent

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Any other duties that may need to be completed for the shift/unit and or department

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications: Prior to starting in the RN I position, applicants must possess a valid, active Registered Nurse License issued by the State of Colorado (Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) OR any state participating in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).

Substitutions: None
Preferred Qualifications
In addition to the Minimum Qualifications and Required Skills outlined above, our ideal candidate will possess the following Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate from a Nursing Program within the last 12 months
• No current RN work experience
• No previous work experience at CMHHIP
• A strong work ethic based on a foundation of self-motivation, loyalty, honesty, and integrity.
• Dependable, responsible, and adaptable

Highly Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to maintain required licensure/credentials.
• Customer/Personal Service - knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services, this includes needs assessment.
• Psychology - knowledge of human behavior and performance, individual difference in ability, personality, and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Knowledgeable in nursing processes
• Active Listening and communication
• Judgment, Decision Making, and Problem Sensitivity - the ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong; to include not only solving the problem but recognizing there is a problem.
• Oral and Written Communication Skills - the ability to speak and write effectively, providing valid and pertinent information to peers, coworkers, and subordinates.
• Monitoring/Assessing performance.
• Organization Skills.
• Documentation/Recording Information - entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic form.
• Computer Skills/Software - knowledge of Microsoft Office software, excel spreadsheet, database software and email.