NURSE I - Medical Services at Fort Logan

This position is open to current Colorado residents onlyThis position will receive a short-staffing temporary pay differential of(4%)from July 1st, 2025, to June 30th, 2026

You 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.

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.

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) connects people to assistance, resources, and support for living independently in our state. We are the people who help people. Colorado has a state-supervised and county-administered human services system. Our mission is to collaborate with our partners to design and deliver high-quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Our vision is that the people of Colorado are safe, healthy, and prepared to achieve their greatest aspirations. Through our core values listed below, CDHS staff are committed to:

· Individual dignity and respect;
· Person-centered, evidence-based care;
· Trauma-informed recovery;
· Multidisciplinary collaboration;
· Diversity and inclusion;
· Strong family and community partnerships.
The Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan (CMHHIFL) is one of two state hospitals serving our community. The vision of CMHHIFL 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. CMHHIFL 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.
The Medical Services Section exists to promote and protect the health of patients and staff by overseeing, providing, and coordinating all medically related care and clinical analyses necessary for the proper evaluation and treatment of the hospital’s patients, and by managing the infection control and employee health programs.This position supports the hospital’s Infection Preventionist in carrying out infection prevention and control activities, including surveillance, audits, outbreak response, education, and staff guidance. The role is strictly assistive in nature and does not independently assess, interpret, or make infection prevention decisions; all work is performed under the direction and authority of the Infection Preventionist. This is the primary focus of the position. The RN also provides support to Employee Health and Infection Control functions, including participation in a rotating on-call schedule for COVID response and other communicable disease-related issues, with required escalation to the Infection Preventionist for guidance and decision-making. Additional support may be provided within the Medical Services Department as needed. The position supports compliance with applicable standards and regulations established by CDPHE, The Joint Commission, CDC, and the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. Other duties include:
Provides Direct Assistance to the Hospital’s Infection Preventionist:

• Supports the Infection Preventionist (IP) in planning, implementing, and evaluating infection prevention and control strategies across the hospital.
• Under the direction of the IP, the RN performs routine surveillance, collects and summarizes data, supports outbreak investigations, and helps ensure compliance with applicable infection prevention regulations, protocols, and standards.

Documentation and Regulatory Support:

• Maintains organized and accessible electronic and paper records of infection prevention and control (IPC) monitoring activities, education, and interventions.
• Prepares and compiles documentation to support internal audits, survey readiness activities, and external regulatory reviews under the direction of the Infection Preventionist.
• Supports policy and procedure updates by gathering and organizing related reference materials, regulatory guidance, and evidence-based best practices.
• Tracks the implementation status and outcomes of IPC-related performance improvement initiatives, as directed by the Infection Preventionist.
• Maintains a weekly summary dashboard of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) data by unit to support leadership’s awareness and response.
• Assists with implementing visual alert systems, such as color-coded indicators, to help prioritize infection control surveillance efforts.
• Utilizes standardized environmental rounding tools and logs to ensure consistent and complete data collection during IPC monitoring.

Infection Surveillance and Reporting Support:

• Assists with ongoing surveillance and tracking of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in accordance with facility protocols and regulatory standards.
• Collects, enters, and maintains accurate data using National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions and hospital-approved surveillance methods.
• Compiles preliminary data summaries and generates draft reports for review and validation by the Infection Preventionist.
• Supports case tracking and assists in identifying trends, clusters, or changes in infection patterns under the guidance of the Infection Preventionist.
• Prepares and organizes data sets and relevant documentation to assist the Infection Preventionist in completing internal and external reporting requirements

Infection Control Observations and Environmental Rounds:

• Conducts and participates in environmental rounds to assess infection prevention conditions, including cleanliness, hand hygiene stations, PPE availability, and required signage.
• Documents observations in a standardized format and assists the Infection Preventionist in follow-up coordination with Environmental Services, facilities, or unit leadership.
• Identifes and report breaches in infection prevention protocols, including but not limited to cleaning practices, PPE use, and isolation precautions.
• Evaluates and documents adherence to shared equipment cleaning and disinfection procedures, including verification of log use and supply availability.

Staff Education and Infection Prevention Communication:

• Assists with onboarding and training of new staff on infection prevention practices, including the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), hand hygiene, and standard precautions.
• Collaborates with the Infection Preventionist to create and disseminate educational materials such as flyers, newsletters, or posters on timely infection prevention topics.
• Prepares, organizes, and distributes materials for required annual trainings and emergency preparedness drills (e.g., bloodborne pathogens, respiratory protection fit testing).
• Supports infection prevention committees by taking accurate minutes and distributing summaries as needed.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• May provide cross-coverage or serve as backup for other areas within the Medical Services Section as operationally necessary.
• Performs administrative or clinical tasks that arise during urgent or high-priority infection control needs.
• Helps with organizing supplies, documents, or logs related to infection prevention.
• Provides shared on-call support with the Infection Preventionist, including responding to urgent infection control needs after-hours or on weekends, when scheduled.
• Other duties as assigned

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)

No Substitutions

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working as a Registered Nurse in a clinical or healthcare setting (e.g., hospital, outpatient clinic, behavioral health, or long-term care).

• 3 or more years working as a registered nurse

• Experience following established infection prevention and control practices, including standard precautions, isolation protocols, and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Experience documenting clinical information and maintaining accurate records.

• Experience working collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams, including clinical and non-clinical staff.

• Experience following established policies, procedures, and regulatory standards in a healthcare setting.

• Preferred (but not required):

• Experience supporting infection prevention, employee health, or occupational health activities.

• Experience with data collection, tracking, or reporting using spreadsheets or similar tools.

• Experience in ambulatory care, employee health, or clinic-based nursing support.

• Current experience working as a registered nurse. Knowledge of infection control-related priorities and precautions, as a registered nurse providing direct patient care.

• Minimum of an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from an accredited nursing program.

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or coursework in public health, infection prevention, or occupational health is preferred but not required

• Experience in a medical setting as a registered nurse (i.e., work experience in acute care, skilled nursing facility, or long-term care environments).

• Background in education or training (i.e., experience as a preceptor, instructor, or mentoring new staff).

• Additional certifications in specialized areas

• Ability to follow directions and support infection prevention activities under the guidance of the Infection Preventionist.

• Experience or familiarity with employee health or occupational health functions (e.g., screenings, immunization tracking, exposure follow-up).

• Ability to collect, track, and maintain data accurately, including use of spreadsheets (e.g., Google Workspace, Excel) or similar tools.

• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, particularly with documentation and data entry.

• Ability to recognize and report infection control concerns or trends to appropriate leadership.

Conditions of Employment:

• Shift work eligible
• On-call status eligible: This position provides after-hours on-call availability and service for:
  Employee Health, Medical Clinic, and Infection Control programs. Responsibilities include fielding employee calls regarding illness, providing guidance and education for infectious disease outbreak management, approving returns to work, and completing mandatory infection reporting as required by law. On-call coverage may extend beyond regular business hours and weekends indefinitely. On-call is on a rotational basis.
• May be exposed to use, Handling, or Exposure to hazardous materials
• Other: TB testing, annual influenza, and other vaccines as required by the State of Colorado
• Full Background Check: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)

• 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. 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 a review and rating of all the information you submit.

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).

Appeal Rights

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on theState Personnel Boardwebsite.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.

• You can find the official appeal formhere.

• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

  • By email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), or

  • Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or

  • Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or

  • Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgment of the department’s action.

Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

• At (303) 866-3300, or

• Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within theRuleswebpage.

• How to apply to the State of Colorado(Youtube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)

• The Assessment Process

About Us & Benefits

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of theColorado Department of Human Services(CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado.Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including aPERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Planplus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medicalanddentalhealth plans

• Employer supplementedHealth Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• State of ColoradoEmployee BenefitHub Resource Center

• Employee Wellness program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

• *Some positions may qualify for thePublic Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

• Collaboration helps us rise together:We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment.

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries tocdhs_ada@state.co.us.

EEO Statement

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a“Colorado for ALL"of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Support For Your Application

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.