Director of Nursing (Correctional Health Nurse IV)

Job Announcement

This is a reannouncement. Applicants who wish to revise their original application are encouraged to reapply with a revised application.  Otherwise, all applicants who previously applied do not need to reapply to be considered.

*$10,000 Sign-on BONUS*

The Fairfax County Sheriff’s office is hiring a Director of Nursing, which is a key leadership position in its Medical Branch. The Director of Nursing manages 24/7 nursing operations at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center managing 24/7. Must be a dynamic, innovative, nursing professional that is a proven leader with a stellar track record to lead the correctional nursing staff, which requires expertise in acute, behavioral, and public health nursing. This position offers opportunities to stretch your skills as a leader, an advocate, and to make a real difference in the health of some of our community’s most vulnerable individuals, this is a job for you. If these areas are your strengths and passion, qualified applicants are encouraged to apply!
 
Coordinates nursing activities to ensure compliance with medical orders, and current agency policies and procedures. Participates in planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing services. Interprets and teaches accrediting agency standards for staff. Directly manages assigning caseloads, reviewing reports, and evaluating performance; train, evaluates and supervises nursing personnel; monitors conduct and behavior of nursing staff, providing counseling, and recommending/initiating disciplinary action when appropriate; establishes and approves work schedules that provide adequate coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Assesses training, orientation needs for correctional health programs and recommends and coordinates workforce development opportunities and develops evaluation tools. Works in collaboration with medical services leadership team to ensure that inmate complaints and grievances relative to health care are investigated and responded to, consults with inmates' family and others as appropriate regarding health care services available. Ensures that subordinates adhere to agency operating procedures and health care standards adopted by the Virginia Board of Corrections, The American Correctional Association, The Virginia Board of Health Professionals, and The National Commission on Correctional Health Care. Coordinates with and serves as the resource nurse for health care team supervisors to ensure completion of operational goals and objectives; ensures designated staff representatives participate in the Institutional Classification Committee Hearings.
 
 *A $10,000 signing bonus is available to employees hired in the Correctional Health Nurse IV position. This bonus program requires a signed payback agreement between the department and employee.

Illustrative Duties

The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

As the primary liaison with the Correctional Health Services Administrator and staff physician, dentist, psychiatrist, and nurse practitioner, coordinates Health Care Section activities to ensure compliance with current orders, procedures and policies and to ensure completion of operational goals and objectives;

As the Quality Assurance Nurse (QAN), implements, and manages effective, continuous quality improvement measures within the Adult Detention Center’s Health Care Section. Supports best practice approaches, evaluates capacity and service effectiveness, develops measurement tools;

With the Correctional Health Services Administrator, periodically updates policies and procedures, informing staff of upcoming changes and coordinating their implementation;

Prepares documentation needed to meet the standards set by the Virginia Board of Corrections, the Virginia Board of Health Professionals, the American Correctional Association, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care; 

Participates in preparing the Section's budget request for additional equipment and/or staff;

Monitors the conduct and behavior of staff, providing counseling and recommending/initiating disciplinary action when appropriate;

Ensures medical records are properly maintained and remain confidential;

Establishes/approves work schedules that provide adequate staff coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

Consults with inmates' families and attorneys regarding health care delivery and services available;

Reviews performance evaluations of lower-level staff, establishes individual action plans to improve performance and/or efficiency, and seeks training opportunities for subordinates;

Serves as the resource nurse for the Correctional Health Nurse III (shift supervisor) positions;

Makes the final decision on health care issues that can be resolved at the section level, deferring to the Correctional Health Services Administrator, physician, nurse practitioner, dentist or psychiatrist as needed;

Ensures that inmate complaints and grievances related to health care are investigated and addressed; 

Reviews and revises contract specifications and vendor contracts for health care services.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

Extensive knowledge of nursing policies, procedures, practices, and protocols;

Thorough knowledge of agency operating procedures and health care standards adopted by the American Correctional Association, the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, the Virginia Board of Corrections, and the Virginia Board of Health Professionals;

Extensive knowledge of supervisory principles, practices, techniques, and procedures;

Knowledge of County personnel, budgeting, and procurement policies and procedures;

Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers, subordinates, other staff members, inmates, and their families and attorneys;

Ability to effectively supervise the work of subordinate health care professionals;

Ability to quickly assess an emergency and respond appropriately.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:   
Graduation from a college or university accredited by the National League for Nursing with a bachelor's degree in nursing; plus, five years of post-licensure experience as a nurse, plus at least one year of supervisory experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:   

Experience working in an Emergency Room (ER) or an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

At least 3 years supervisory experience.

Background working in correctional health.

NCCHC or other correctional accreditation experience. 

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
 

Possession of a current license or a multistate licensure privilege to practice as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Basic Life Support (BLS) (Required)

Advanced Cardiovascular Lie Support (ACLS) (Required within 12 months)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, credit check, driving record check, pre-employment medical evaluation, polygraph exam, psychological exam and tuberculosis test to the satisfaction of the employer.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
 

Ability to effectively supervise the work of subordinate health care professionals; ability to quickly assess an emergency and respond appropriately.  All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include exercise.
     
The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.
 
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
 
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.