Registered Nurse (Rn)

Basic Function

To assess, prescribe, perform and document independent nursing practices at the Ramsey County Care Center, Lake Owasso Residence, the Ramsey County Detoxification Center, Mental Health Division of Social Services, or under the direction of a Public Health Nurse; to perform and document dependent functions such as carrying out the physician's medical orders; to assist physicians with diagnostic and treatment procedures; to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for a variety of patients; to coordinate, communicate, interpret, and explain patient care services to the patient, the patient's family, health professionals and important others; and perform related duties as assigned.
The detox withdrawal management nurse assignment primary functions include medical observation, evaluation, and stabilization services to assist patients in safely withdrawing from alcohol or other substances. Provides direct nursing care to clients such as implementing condition specific protocols for symptom management, emotional and psychological support, wound care, medication reconciliation, care coordination, and patient education.

Examples of Work Performed

• Promote a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace.
• Monitor patient's condition by documenting vital signs, observe monitoring equipment, take blood pressure, note intake and output, observe patient behavior, and take emergency or corrective action.
• Provide physical comfort to patients through bathing, positioning, administering pain medications as ordered by the physician, and providing bed pans.
• Assist physician with diagnostic procedures such as x-rays and laboratory tests, by positioning patient, explaining the procedures and drawing blood.
• Provide emotional support to patients and their families by listening to them, encouraging expression of their feelings, and explaining treatment procedures.
• Administer prescribed treatments such as wound care, catheter, tracheotomy, colostomy, ileostomy and gastrostomy care.
• Educate patients by instructing them about ordered tests, procedures and medications, home care, and explain and demonstrate the types of equipment and instruments used in the procedures.
• Assess and triage nursing needs of patients by observation and interview in order to identify problems, symptoms, and physical, behavioral, and psychological alterations and/or changes.
• Prescribe nursing interventions based on assessment for patient care needs related to mobility, rest and sleep, pain and comfort, ventilation, nutrition, elimination, skin integrity, emotional support, and psychological orientation.
• Provide direct nursing care to patients by performing care measures such as , positioning, ambulating, range of motion; perform technical skills such as measuring blood pressures, temperature, pulse, respiration; observe monitoring equipment and make judgements about the physiological parameters being measured; initiate, maintain and monitor intravenous therapy; provide maintenance and troubleshooting for patients on mechanical ventilators; perform cardiac output measurements; administer medications and evaluate their effectiveness and/or side effects/adverse reactions; perform emergency measures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Document observations, interventions, and evaluations of all nursing care provided.
• Educate patients by instructing them about ordered tests, procedures, and medications; how to carry out their continued care after discharge including use of prescribed equipment, give self-injections and reinforce/clarify the knowledge they have about their disease process.
• Act as a patient advocate, facilitate resourceful utilization of health care services, equipment and supplies and identify problems that may be appropriately referred to the patient representative.
• Develop and write nursing care plans, write nursing orders. Assess patients' mental and physical status and provide nursing diagnoses.
• Make immediate decisions in case of emergency and notify physicians, paramedics, fire department or other assistance as needed.
• Provide specific information to patients regarding the process and treatment of chemical dependency.
• Provide health assessment, management and triage services for patients receiving detoxification services.

(The work assigned to a position in this classification may not include all possible tasks in this description and does not limit the assignment of any additional tasks in this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required.)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: As required for licensure.

Experience: None.

Substitution: None.

Certifications/Licensure: Must be licensed as a Registered Nurse by State of Minnesota or have a permit to practice professional nursing by the Minnesota Board of Nursing (Applicants who qualify based on a permit are subject to the limitations prescribed by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.)

Exam/Screening Process Information

The examination process will consist of the following section with each section weighted as indicated:
Training and Experience Rating = 100%
The examination for Registered Nurse will consist of a training and experience rating, comprised of the questions in the attached supplemental questionnaire. Not all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will pass the training and experience rating. The rating on this supplemental questionnaire will depend on your answers to the questions – do not mark “see resume” or “see work history” as a response. Please answer all your questions clearly and completely. Failure to respond could affect your score and final rank on this examination.
Eligible List: The names of all applicants who filed a properly completed application and passed the examination/screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for an employment opportunity as a Registered Nurse. This list will be certified to the appointing authority which may use this list to conduct interviews to fill a vacancy. Candidates will remain on the Rule of the List, list for 1 month or until hired, whichever occurs first. A notice will be sent to applicants at the time the eligible list is posted, informing them that the list has been posted and their rank on the list.
Veteran's Preference: This is a classified position requiring an open, competitive selection process. Veteran's Preference points will be applied after a candidate passes the examination process. Applicants who are eligible for veteran's preference should update their veteran's DD214, and other supporting documents, and submit them as an attachment at the time of application.
Criminal Background Checks: All employment offers are conditioned upon the applicant passing a criminal background check. Convictions are not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought. However, making false statements or withholding information will cause you to be barred from employment, or removed from employment.
In addition, you may be subject to one or more of the following:

• Background Investigation
• Department of Human Services (DHS) Background Check
• Fingerprint-based Records Check

Ramsey County provides a wide range of employee benefits to support health, well-being, and work/life balance. Benefits eligibility can vary depending on union status/contract language. A summary of benefits is provided below. Detailed information is available for review at https://www.ramseycounty.us/employees/employee-open-enrollment-2024-benefits

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
  • The County contributes a bargained percentage to the medical and dental monthly premium
  • Employees choose from four enrollment tiers: Single, Employee + legally married spouse, Employee + Child(ren), Family
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical insurance – three plan options including a High Deductible Plan with a Health Saving Account offered. Earn up to $20/month in electronic gift cards for each enrolled employee or spouse for wellness activity
  • MetLife Dental Insurance – two plan options offered
  • VSP Vision Insurance – Advantage Plan offered

• Pre-tax Benefit Program
  • Pre-tax medical, dental, vision monthly premium deduction option
  • Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • County monthly contribution to a Health Savings Account for employees who elect the High Deductible medical plan

• Paid time off
  • Vacation hours, accrued based on years of service, ranging from 12 to 25 days per year (pro-rated for part-time employees)
  • 11 scheduled holidays and one floating holiday
  • Up to three weeks of 100% paid parental leave, plus additional use of sick time as noted below
  • Sick hours accrued at a rate of three weeks per year, which can be used for medical and dental care; injury or illness for you, your spouse or children; the birth or adoption of a child (up to 80 hours) or the death of a family member (up to 40 hours)
  • Wellness incentive allows conversion of unused sick time to vacation or pay

• Retirement benefits
  • Pension - The county contributes at least 7.5% of your salary to your pension, depending on bargaining unit. Unlike other retirement investments, pension payments are a lifetime benefit once you start collecting payments
  • New employees become vested after five years. For the Police and Fire union, employees are vested after 10 years
  • Deferred compensation - 457(b) account with employer match
  • Health Care Savings Plan - all benefits-eligible employees contribute 1% of gross regular salary to a Health Care Savings Plan account for eligible health care expenses after retirement. Interest accrues tax free. County provides a scheduled contribution after five years of participation

• Transit and parking
  • Fully funded Metropass.
  • Transportation/parking expenses reimbursement account

• Employee well-being
  • Employee assistance program, including telephone counseling, financial counseling, rideshare benefits, etc.
  • Wellness programming
  • Flexible work policy with hybrid work options for eligible positions

• Life Insurance and Disability leave
  • County provided Basic Life coverage - 1x annual salary, minimum $10,000 up to a maximum of $50,000. Optional supplemental coverage available
  • Long-term Disability – County provided coverage replaces 40% of the employee’s lost income after six months of disability, subject to a $5,000 monthly maximum. Option to purchase an additional 20% income replacement up to $7,500 monthly maximum
  • Short-term Disability – option to purchase 60% income replacement coverage with 30, 60 or 90-day waiting period

• Career development
  • Tuition reimbursement, up to $4,000 per year
  • Online professional development opportunities through the Learning & Development Center
  • County employment qualifies as a public service organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
  • Employee resource groups – help employees build connections through common bonds with colleagues