Salary: $101,436.00 Annually
Location : Golden, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: IKA 01627 08/22/2026
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OCYF - Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center
Opening Date: 08/22/2026
Closing Date: 9/7/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address: 2901 Ford Street, Golden CO 80401
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not 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.
Description of JobYou are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times.
Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.
Summary of Position:Provide direction and clinical supervision of all Nursing and Health Care Technician staff assigned to the unit. Delivers health care to detained and committed youth within the nurse's scope of practice. Primary care is provided by independent practitioners with responsibility for a continuum of care from the initial assessment through the development and maintenance of health care including physical, psychiatric, and dental maintenance.
Specific Job Duties:Clinical Duties:
- Initial nursing assessments and triage of requests for health/medical care submitted by the youth. Reviews the admission medical information obtained by security staff at intake. Administers nursing care and provides youth education for routine, urgent, and emergent medical situations within the scope of practice. Obtains laboratory and other diagnostic procedures ordered by medical providers, reviews results, and notifies the provider of results when indicated. Initiate nursing/medical treatment plans for youth with special health care needs. Reviews and revises treatment plans as needed. Completes health appraisals, physical exams, vision/hearing screenings, in-house laboratory diagnostic testing (e.g. urine dipsticks, pregnancy tests, STI urine testing, PPD tests etc.), and immunizations per Division of Youth Services (DYS) policy. Documents all encounters with youth in the electronic medical records system and/or appropriate medical logs in an accurate and timely manner. Maintains confidentiality of all patient information (oral and written) according to federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. Initiates consultations/referrals to mid-level provider and/or appropriate physician when indicated. Responds to requests for emergent situations (Code Blue, Code Red) occurring on campus, administers CPR/First Aid, and initiates a 911 call if indicated. Delivers medications, and medical supplies and evaluates youth who may be confined to specific buildings or rooms throughout the campus setting. Other nursing duties as delegated/ordered by DYS physicians or mid-level providers.
Medication and Treatment: - Responsible for the ordering and preparation of youth's medications for administration within the facility. Transcription and procurement of psychiatrist, physician, and/or mid-level provider medication orders. Maintains accuracy of individual Medication Administration Records through reviewing and updating on a continuous basis. Educates youth and staff about medications, side effects, desired effects, and the importance of compliance with prescribed medications. Investigates and documented interviews with youth refusing prescribed medications and initiate interventions. Maintains inventory logs of medications arriving at the facility for youth, preparing them for administration by medical and QMAP staff and delvering them.
- Transcribes, orders, prepares, and administers medications including intramuscular medications per prescribed providers' orders. Updates Medication Administration Record (MAR). Monitors MARs for errors and reports errors to medical clinic supervisor and facility administration. appropriate living units located throughout the campus. Assists in ordering and maintaining stock supplies, medications, and equipment within the campus clinics. Monitors inventory and restocks medications and supplies in campus clinics and living units. Checks campus First Aid Kits, AEDs, pharmaceutical refrigerators, and other equipment on a continuing basis to maintain adequate functioning of the medical department and provision of health care for youth. Documents administration of youth medications and behavioral contacts in electronic medical record database. Assess vaccine status and administers needed vaccines per CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and provider recommendation. Follows Vaccine for Children's Program protocols for immunization administration and safe storage and handling
Clinical Supervision: - Accountable for the work of nursing staff, health care technicians, nursing students, orientees, and others through delegation of work assignments, ensuring timely completion of work, providing clinical leadership, and teaching clinical interventions. Provides clinical and administrative supervision of nursing staff on duty. Acts as a liaison between nursing staff and providers/administration. Coordinates daily tasks and assigns specific duties to staff to ensure all tasks are completed. Ensures that interventions are implemented, that the care provided meets or exceeds community and professional standards and appropriate documentation is completed. Ensures that essential information is shared from shift to shift. Promptly notifies nursing staff of changes to processes, policies, and procedures through communication methods including meetings, email, and individual contact. Provides individual coaching sessions regularly with the nursing staff. Orients new staff and serves as a preceptor for students. Ensure monthly monitoring of the compliance review standards and the maintenance of the NCCHC folders to ensure a continual state of readiness and compliance. Provides ongoing supervision of the assessment and diagnostic skills of the medical clinic staff through regular observation of their practice and review of the documentation in electronic health record. Supervises clinic staff on proper documentation, to include but not limited to histories, exams, diagnoses, and treatment in the medical record. Completes and reviews staff documentation on daily medical documents pertinent to the medical department. Supervises clinic staff on safe and legal protocols to prepare and administer medication without error. Supervision of medical clinic staff to include hiring of new staff, disciplining or terminating employees as indicated, ongoing staff performance feedback, through coaching and mentoring, completion of PMAP's, and accountability for timekeeping-through KRONOS system. Facilitates resolution of interpersonal conflicts, investigates and problem solves internal and external complaints and grievances from staff, youth, family, and other customers. Scheduling of clinic staff based on the needs of the clinic and the facility. Approves or denies individual leave. Point of contact for the local schools for RN, NP or PA students. Facilitates regular staff meetings.
Other Duties as Assigned Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal RightsApplicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed below to continue in the selection process for this position.
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 three (3) 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:- Experience with adolescent health care.
- Experience with mental health nursing
- Experience with correctional nursing
- Relatable experience as a current or previous State of Colorado employee.
Highly Desirable Competencies:- Knowledge of current medications, administration, their actions and use.
- Ability to work in collaborative relationships with other professionals to achieve interdisciplinary goals set for the client.
- Ability to assess and coordinate community health care services to meet the needs of clients and their families.
- Ability to collect, record, and interpret data concisely and accurately.
- Ability to self-regulate emotions when provoked or when working under conditions of stress
Conditions of Employment:- Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence
- Full Background. CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults - Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers).
- This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
- Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check
- Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver's License
- Out-of-State Driver's License holders must obtain a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver's License within 30 days of employment start date.
- Ability to work shift work as required.
- Essential Services Designation - Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
- Travel. May require floating to other DYS Youth Centers to help with coverage, travel to meetings and training.
- Use, Handling, or Exposure to hazardous materials - Explain: Medical Waste
- Must maintain a current CPR Card and perform CPR adequate compressions and ventilations per CPR guidelines.
- Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
- The Diana Screen®, a sexual risk screening tool, is administered to all applicants to the Division of Youth Services (DYS) seeking positions of trust with children and teens to help ensure that ethical boundaries between children and adults are maintained. At the DYS, the safety and protection of the youth who have been entrusted to us is our #1 priority. The results of the Diana Screen will be provided to the Division of Youth Services and may be used as part of the Division's decision on whether a candidate is selected.
- Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
- Disclose that information on the application.
- Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
- Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
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.
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 b