Registered Nurse - Jail Health Services en King County, WA

About the Department

Position Summary

Jail Health Services provides needed health and social services to the incarcerated population located in the King County jails – King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Seattle, WA and Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent, WA. The primary services we provide include medical, dental, mental health, social and release planning services, treatment of substance use disorders, and pharmaceutical services. We care about the patients we serve and their health outcomes. Our division includes over 250 employees and an annual budget of over $60 million.

Staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year, JHS provides a broad range of health care to all individuals booked into the jails. For patients with serious mental health or medical conditions, special housing units (psychiatric and infirmary) with a higher level of service and medical monitoring are provided. Since the patient population varies both in numbers as well as in acuity of health conditions, staffing is adapted and flexed to meet the constantly changing needs of the population.

JHS staff manage the complex health needs of underserved populations, many of whom come to the facility without access to care in the community and with decompensated acute and chronic health conditions.

The JHS vision is "Opening doors to healthier, happier lives", and the mission is to assess and stabilize serious health problems for the detained population of the King County Correctional Facility and the Maleng Regional Justice Center with a focus on transition from jail.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice
Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. 

Position Duties

• Conducts medical, dental, and psychiatric screening and triage with patients over the phone and in-person.
• Obtains and documents health history, chief complaint(s), vital signs, growth monitoring data, assessment data and developmental screening data. 
• Identifies individuals with risk factors and investigates possible associated disease conditions.
• Refers to or consults with other health providers or resources based on assessment to prevent or resolve problems or concerns.
• Executes prescribed treatments and medical, dental, and psychiatric interventions; administers prescribed medications; monitors and documents treatment progress and patient response.
• Documents patient assessment and intervention data in medical records using established medical record forms and documentation practices.
• Obtains and completes appropriate patient consent for care forms, ensures patient confidentiality, and maintains orderly medical records. 
• Follows established Public Health medical records policies and procedures and the State and Federal laws that govern the release of health care information.
• Provides patient education to individuals and groups about health maintenance and management of acute and chronic conditions. 
• Communicates facts, ideas, and skills that change knowledge, attitudes, values, beliefs, behaviors and practices of individuals and families.
• Establishes an interpersonal relationship with individuals or families intended to increase or enhance their capacity for self-care and coping.
• Seeks information and generates optional solutions to perceived problems or issues through interactive problem solving with individuals.
• Responds to emergency situations with basic life support and first aid skills. 
• Summons other health care providers and emergency response personnel in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Participates in Department emergency response trainings and drills; maintains home preparedness.
• Participates as a member of a multidisciplinary team to facilitate teamwork, improve patient care processes and outcomes, and maintain an orderly work environment with efficient clinical flow.
• Delegates as allowed under the Nurse Practice Act.
• Participates and assists in the training and orientation of health care professional students and new employees.
• Demonstrates communication skills that are clear, effective, facilitate patient care and team functioning, and are respectful of differences. Able to give and receive constructive and respectful feedback.
• Establishes and maintains tracking and quality assurance/improvement systems for test reminders, abnormal laboratory tests, and other assessments, screening and monitoring data for acute and chronic illness management.
• Provides for clinic maintenance by developing and maintaining systems that assure provision of adequate supplies as well as maintenance, repair and calibration of clinic equipment.
• Maintains a safe clinic environment by adhering to the standards set by Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Washington Industrial Safety and Health Administration (OSHA/WISHA). Assures implementation of these standards at work; follows infection control guidelines; uses techniques of asepsis; disposes safely of biological and clinical materials; and uses appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Provides patient care based upon these practice guidelines, community standards of care, and Federal and State laws and regulations to ensure compliance relating to scope of practice.
• Participates in activities to evaluate and improve practices, policies, procedures, service delivery models, safety and security measures.
• Maintains 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.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Minimum Qualifications):

• Washington State license as a Registered Nurse (in good standing). 
• Completion of training from a National League of Nursing accredited school of nursing, or the equivalent.
• Documentation of current BLS/CPR certification with AED training required at time of hire. (CPR/AED Heartsaver courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Two or more years of acute nursing experience.
• One or more years of correctional nursing experience.
• Bachelor's degree in nursing science (BSN) from a School of Nursing accredited by the National League of Nursing.

Other Qualifications

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request an accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact Robin Laurence who is on this job announcement.

Who May Apply

We welcome applications from all qualified Registered Nurse applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives, life experience, and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)

(Please note: Cover letters, resumes, and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above).
 
Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in your application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Interview Dates

December 17, 2025 – December 19, 2025 (In-Person)

Contact
If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Robin Laurence, Chief Nursing Officer at [email protected] or 206-477-8075.
 
Union Membership 
Positions in this classification are represented by Washington State Nurses Association - Staff Nurses (WSNA).

Legal Requirements for JHS Employees:

Public Health – Jail Health Services follows and maintains federal and state requirements standards including, but not limited to, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards which apply to all public and private institutions that house adult or juvenile offenders. PREA standards preclude the department from hiring or promoting anyone who has engaged in, or been convicted of any conduct which would violate PREA standards related to sexual assault including:

• Sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other institution.
• Convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or, has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described above.

Additionally, PREA standards require that the department consider any incidents of sexual harassment involving an inmate or detainee in determining whether to hire or promote anyone.

The above is in compliance with PREA and its implementing regulations, 28 C.F.R. Part 115, Subpart A, Section 115.17, Hiring and Promotion Decisions.

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR. 
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment. 
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en. 
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health – Seattle & King County relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools; therefore, candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health – Seattle & King County positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department. 
• If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
 

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.