THE JOB: Under direction, provide professional nursing care in the County's detention facilities; and perform other duties as required.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of education and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:   Four years of registered nursing experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities listed.  Two years of Licensed Vocational Nurse experience in a detention facility may be substituted for each year of required nursing experience.  

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:  License/Certificate/Registration: Possess and maintain a valid Registered Nurse License issued by the State of California; possession of a current CPR certificate; and possess and maintain a California class C driver license from the start of employment.

A copy of your current CPR certificate must be received by the Personnel Department in order to continue through the recruitment process.  Mail/bring a copy of your current CPR certification to the Santa Cruz County Personnel Department at the addresses below, or fax to (831) 454-2240. Background Investigation: Fingerprinting and a background investigation are required. Must be physically and mentally capable of performing the classification's essential functions as summarized in the typical tasks section of this job specification. Other Special Requirements: Incumbents work shift schedules involving night, weekend and holiday work in a 24-hour, seven day a week operation.  

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Exposure to odors such as vomitus, feces, urine and draining abscesses; fumes from cleaning supplies and solvents; noise such as shouting inmates and constant radio communications; hostile individuals and infections which might cause chronic disease or death.  

KNOWLEDGE: Thorough knowledge of professional registered nursing techniques, practices, procedures, and regulations; routine medical/psychological assessment techniques; administering medications and treatment; the uses, effects and adverse reactions to medications and controlled substances; universal precautions consistent with infectious disease control; medical terminology, instruments and equipment; emergency response practices and procedures; accurate charting and medical record keeping practices; interviewing techniques and the laws governing registered nursing practice. 

ABILITY TO: Assess physical/psychological condition and interview inmates to obtain medical histories; deal effectively with manipulative, hostile and antisocial behaviors; respond effectively in emergency and stressful situations; act as a team leader, assure that shift is fully staffed and kept informed of medical conditions on shift; work in an institutional setting and learn and apply institutional rules, policies and regulations; explain medical procedures, treatments and medications to inmates; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; maintain accurate and well documented inmate medical records and write routine reports; maintain confidentiality of medical information, medical records, and Criminal Justice information; make effective, reasonable and responsible decisions in emergencies and take appropriate action; deal firmly and fairly with inmates and demonstrate tact and diplomacy; identify alcohol, drug and street drug related symptoms and behaviors; apply first aid and CPR which requires stamina and coordination; push heavy objects such as Med carts, or an occupied wheelchair; rapidly move to and respond to an emergency medical situation; distinguish colors of uniforms and armbands to identify inmate access to restricted areas; distinguish verbal and nonverbal sounds in a noisy environment; stand and walk for long periods of time; lift objects weighing up to 16 pounds, such as an emergency bag, portable oxygen tank, and medical cardex files and apply universal precautions to prevent transmission of communicable disease to self or others.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:

THE EXAMINATION: Your application will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training, and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement.  If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list.  The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants.  If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months, and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now!  Click on the link below; or print out an application and mail/bring application to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 310, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060 or Personnel Department, 1430 Freedom Blvd, Suite 101, Watsonville, CA, 95076.  For information, call (831) 454-2600.  Hearing Impaired TDD# (831) 454-2123.  Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways:  1) in the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.