Salary: $100,368.00 - $140,508.00 Annually
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: IIC 01392 08/25/26
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OBH - CMHIFL
Opening Date: 08/25/2026
Closing Date: 9/4/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not 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: Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan3520 W. Oxford Ave. Denver, CO 80236
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.

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.
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 recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies (morning, afternoon, and evening shifts).

This position is on-site only

We offer shift differentials for Nights and Weekend between 14 - 20% above base pay!
Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefits package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

About Fort Logan:

Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan (CMHHFL) is one of two state hospitals serving our community. The vision of CMHHFL is to provide the highest quality mental health services to persons with complex, serious, and persistent mental health illnesses within the resources available. Our mission is to support those individuals in achieving their recovery goals and reaching their full potential. CMHHFL provides inpatient treatment to adult patients, generally between the ages of 18-49. The hospital has 94 adult inpatient beds, and over four treatment units and opened an additional 44 beds (two units) in December 2022, with one unit currently occupied, the other unit awaiting occupancy. These two forensic units will be dedicated to providing psychiatric stabilization and restoration treatment to individuals who opined incompetent to proceed as a result of their mental illness. Medical services, occupational therapy, neuropsychological-rehabilitation services, and trauma-informed care services are available for all patients throughout the hospital.

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CDHSCareers

Description of Job
About this Work Unit:
The Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan (CMHIFL) is one of two state hospitals serving our community. The vision of CMHIFL is to provide the highest quality mental health services to persons with complex, serious, and persistent mental illness within the resources available. Our mission is to support those individuals in achieving their recovery goals and reaching their full potential. CMHIFL provides inpatient treatment to adult patients, generally between the ages of 18-59. The hospital currently has 138 adult inpatient beds, over six treatment milieus serving civil and forensic individuals. Medical services, occupational therapy, neuropsychological-rehabilitation services, and trauma-informed care services are available for all patients throughout the hospital.
Purpose of this Position:

Supervise all nursing staff, either directly or through subordinate supervisors, who are assigned to a specific patient care unit. The RN IV tailors the application of nursing theories, concepts and principles to fit specific unit or patient population circumstances and to deal with emergencies. In coordination with the other discipline managers on the team, the Nurse Manager is expected to attend hospital morning rounds and report on issues that impact the nursing care provided on the unit to include: admissions/transfers, discharge/discharge barriers, special treatment plans/behavior plans, grievances at step one, seclusions & restraints to include staff debriefings, staffing/call-offs & coverage issues, patient to patient assaults, patient to staff assaults, census, number of patients on observation levels to include type of observation patients receiving 1:1 staffing, patients who are QA based due to heightened risk factors, elopements, medical issues, medical appointments, medication variances, pain assessment status, barriers to admission & team needs to reduce or eliminate barriers to admissions, and critical incidents at the team level.
Summary of Duties:

Demonstrates professional leadership by applying nursing concepts, theories and standards to complex clinical situations and to team program development. Ensures optimal patient care by direct observation of clinical practice and by reviewing treatment as discussed and demonstrated in patient records, care plans and treatment planning meetings. Consults with team and nursing department to establish standard patient care protocols.

Supervises all nursing staff either directly or through subordinate supervisors. Establishes and monitors performance criteria in regular supervisory meetings with nursing staff, including performance plans and evaluations, and appropriate corrective or recommended disciplinary actions.

Conducts interviews, selects and hires nursing personnel per agency guidelines. Orients and trains new nursing staff to apply theory and skills in individualized plans for a specific patient population.
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:

Current, valid licensure as a Registered Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing or any state participating in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) Four (4) 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:

• 4+ years of inpatient psychiatric nursing experience
• 1+ years of experience as a nurse manager on an inpatient psychiatric unit
• Experience scheduling for a 24/7 inpatient unit
• Previous acute inpatient psychiatric hospital experience
• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders and current medications
• Knowledge of Psychiatric Recovery and Trauma-Informed Care principles and practices
• 1 + years experience in inpatient adolescent psychiatric care.

Highly Desirable Competencies:

• Ability to work with and communicate with internal and external clients and customers to meet their needs in a polite, courteous, and cooperative manner and committed to quality service
• Ability to perform with a high level of initiative, effort and commitment toward completing assignments efficiently
• Ability to foster commitment and team spirit
• Ability to listen to others and respond appropriately
• Ability to keep own emotions under control and restrain negative behaviors when provoked or when working under conditions of stress
• Ability to resolve conflict
• Ability to problem solve
• Ability to execute decisions
• Integrity, and Accountability

Conditions of Employment:

• (Standard/full) background check and reference check required
• 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 Check , if the employee will drive a state-owned vehicle, either in an on-going capacity while performing their normal day-to-day job duties OR on occasion for training/meetings/client visits/etc.
• Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver's License or an non-restricted U.S. Driver's License for positions within 30 miles of the CO state border
• Out-of-State Driver's License holders must obtain a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver's License within 30 days of employment start date.
• Other Conditions of Employment specific to Program
• 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.

• 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).

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