Registered Nurse - Juvenile (Part-Time)

Posting number: 2026JE27719

Department: DAJD-Adult/Juvenile Detention

Division: Juvenile

Job classification: Registered Nurse - Juvenile (R2 : WSNA-Staff Nurses-DPH, DAJD)

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Corrections, Public Health, Nursing, Professional, Medical

Summary

The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) is accepting applications for Registered Nurses who are interested in bringing their nursing expertise to a specialized practice setting and making a meaningful difference in the lives of youth in detention.

Nursing practice in a detention setting is highly specialized and centers on providing safe, compassionate, and equitable health care to a vulnerable population. Detention nurses practice as part of an interdisciplinary team while maintaining a strong focus on independent clinical judgment, assessment, and patient advocacy. They perform many of the core functions of nursing practice found in traditional health care settings, including assessing health needs, identifying and responding to acute and chronic conditions, developing and implementing care plans, administering medications and treatments, and educating patients about their health.

What distinguishes detention nursing is the environment in which that care is delivered. Nurses must adapt their practice to a secure setting, where resources may be more limited and immediate access to other health care professionals or services may not always be available. This creates opportunities for nurses to exercise a high degree of autonomy, critical thinking, clinical decision-making, and resourcefulness.

DAJD nurses have the opportunity to build therapeutic relationships with youth, promote health and wellness, respond to emerging health concerns, and advocate for patients who may experience significant barriers to health care. Through their practice, detention nurses play an essential role in ensuring that every young person receives competent, trauma-informed, and compassionate nursing care while in custody.

If you are a Registered Nurse looking to expand your practice, strengthen your clinical judgment, and serve youth in a unique and challenging environment, DAJD offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact through nursing.

Examples of duties

• Provide nursing assessments and interventions including medical, dental, and psychiatric screening and triage with patients; obtaining health history, chief complaint; conducting drug and alcohol withdrawal assessments, patient care planning, and evaluation and medical care coordination; carrying out prescribed treatments; collecting specimens as needed; administering medications and vaccinations; and monitoring and documenting treatment progress and patient response.
• Oversee the general operations of the health clinic.
• Provide mental health services, as a member of an interdisciplinary team, to patients = with emotion, behavioral, cognitive, and social impairments.
• Refer to or consult with other health providers in person and on the phone.
• Follow established Public Health medical records policies and procedures and the State and Federal laws that govern the release of health care information.
• Establish relationships with individuals to promote interactive problem solving and provide patient education.
• Delegate as allowed under the Nurse Practice Act.
• Participate and assist in the training and orientation of new health care employees and students.
• Provide for clinic maintenance of supplies and equipment and maintain a safe environment according to standards of OSHA/WISHA.
• Provide patient care based upon practice guidelines, community standards of care, and Federal and State laws and regulations.
• Respond to emergencies, injuries, and illness throughout the facility; perform CPR when needed.
• Maintain professional competence by pursuing opportunities for continuous learning, attending continuing education offerings, reading professional literature, and engaging in other activities which develop new knowledge and skills.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications

• An active and unencumbered Washington State license as a Registered Nurse or Multi-State Licensure 
• Associate's degree in nursing science, bachelor's degree in nursing or a graduate level nursing degree of MSN, DNP or PhD from an accredited school of nursing
• Documentation of current BLS-CPR for Health Care Providers. CPR/AED HeartSaver courses do not meet this requirement
• Willing to provide options counseling
• Washington state driver's license or ability to travel to sites within the county
• Pass bac