Salary : $7,667.00 - $10,733.00 Monthly
Location : Pueblo, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: IIB 00705 07/13/2026
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OBH - CMHIP
Opening Date: 07/13/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Determined by Position
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
Type of Announcement: A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
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.

Registered Nurse I-Full Time
Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP)

100% In-Person

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

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

Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.
Please Note: This posting will be open until filled {and filling multiple vacancies}, not extending beyond 12 months. All applications will be reviewed as they come in until all positions are filled, we advise applicants to apply early. Posting will close on May 05, 2027.

Description of Job
Registered Nurse I-Full Time

This posting will be used to fill Multiple Units

About the Position:

Positions are Full Time, have a fixed schedule, and provide essential direct care of patients across various units. These units range from High Security to Low Security settings, with a diverse patient population including adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients experiencing psychiatric disorders, criminal involvement, or medical complexities. Staff may work in units featuring locked or unlocked doors, depending on the level of security required. Responsibilities include providing care to high-acuity patients in secure environments, such as high-security buildings with Sally Ports, or in lower-security community reintegration settings.

The purpose of this position is to provide nursing oversight and direction of nursing personnel working the same shift as well as the same unit. Provide direction to all direct care nursing staff on assigned shift(s). Serve as a resource and mentor to all nursing staff on assigned shift. Promote and maintain nursing staff efficiency. Oversee the attainment and achievement of Unit/Program/Hospital/Nursing Department goals for the specified shift. Primary duties consist of providing directions to nursing staff for the shift and providing therapeutic nursing care to mentally ill patients. Represents the Nursing Department in hospital-wide committees and work groups. Applications of knowledge, expertise and experience in providing safe and effective patient care. Provide immediate crisis intervention in the milieu and response to all emergency situations.

The Nurse I works in tandem with other staff assigned to the unit on that shift. The Nurse I works within multiple levels of patient care and is coordinated across a continuum. The Nurse I adheres to and references the professional codes of conduct, regulatory agency standards, the Nurse Practice Act, State Board of Nursing, professional codes of ethics, and scope of discipline practice guides to ensure various levels of nursing personnel function within their scope of practice. The Nurse I is responsible for communicating, implementing, and clarifying nursing policies at the unit level. Participates in and collaborates with the Lead Nurse to prepare nursing personnel for onsite surveys, documentation requirements, and ensures quality of care is rendered according to the State Board of Nursing, The Joint Commission, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Department Personnel Rules and Regulations.

Responsibilities also include the provision of safe, appropriate nursing care on the unit by effective deployment of nursing staff resources, ensuring enough staff with licenses on each shift, coordination and timely statistical reporting of incidents, acuity, QA/PI activities, implementation of department policies and standards of care, responsible for retention of nursing staff on their shift(s).
Clinical Direction:

• Responsible for the direction of all nursing staff on the assigned shift and unit while working in conjunction with the Lead Nurse
• 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 Lead Nurse immediately
• Responsible for helping the Lead Nurse 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 Lead Nurse
• 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 Lead Nurses 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 Lead Nurse 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:

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 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
• Posses a strong work ethic based on a foundation of: self-motivation, loyalty, honesty, and integrity.
• Dependable, responsible, and adaptable
• Previous State Experience

Essential Attributes:

• Must be able to see and hear in order 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 up to 50+ pounds on occasion

Conditions of Employment:

• FULL BACKGROUND CHECK: This position will have direct contact with vulnerable persons (as defined by C.R.S.27-90-111: "Direct contact" means providing face-to-face care, training, supervision, counseling, consultation, or medication assistance to vulnerable persons, regardless of the level of supervision of the department employee. "Direct contact" may include positions in which persons have access to or unsupervised time with clients or patients, including but not limited to maintenance personnel, housekeeping staff, kitchen staff, and security personnel.)
• CBI & FBI fingerprint check, Colorado Court Database check, Medicare Fraud Database, TRAILS Database check.
• This position will also provide direct care to vulnerable adults requiring a CAPS check (as defined by C.R.S. 26-3.1-101, position provides services & support care to at-risk/vulnerable adults including case management, clergy, physical or mental health services, safety or welfare services).
• May work various shifts
• Required to rep