CLINICAL NURSE I - CERMAK

Cook County Health; Illinois; On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage

Pension Plan

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Cook County Health is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse for the Department of Patient Care Services at Cermak Health Services in Chicago, IL. The role involves providing professional nursing care to detainees and coordinating with a multidisciplinary team to ensure high-quality patient outcomes.

The position requires an Illinois RN license or the ability to obtain prior to start, plus current CPR. Experience in acute or correctional care is preferred and there are opportunities for

Qualifications

• Must hold a current State of Illinois RN license, or have the ability to obtain before starting.
• Current CPR required.
• Experience in correctional or ambulatory care settings is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional nursing care to patients/detainees using the nursing process.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses and health team members to deliver high-quality care.
• Supervise and coordinate activities of LPNs and support staff.
• Administer medications according to policies and standards.
• Maintain documentation and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

Skills

RN License

CPR Certification

Nursing Care

Education

RN License Illinois

Job description

PLEASE BE ADVISED that this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between Cook County and the National Nurses Organizing Committee. Pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement, Cook County will exhaust internal eligible applicants prior to considering external applicants. Cook County is assembling a list of qualified candidates for this position that will be considered should the position not be filled with internal eligible applicants.

LOCATION

Cermak Health Services (Dept of Corrections), 2800 S California Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

DEPARTMENT

Patient Care Services - Division 2, Dorm 2

SHIFT

3:00PM - 11:30PM

SALARY

$38.203 - $52.061 HOURLY

Salary is commensurate with years of RN experience indicated at time of application submittal. Experience not disclosed or documented at the time of application will not be considered for initial step placement.

JOB SUMMARY UNION - NNOC

Provides professional nursing care to all patients/detainees of various ages utilizing the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. Effectively interacts with patients/detainees, correctional officers, peers, department heads, physicians, and a multi-disciplinary health team. Maintains standards of professional nursing. Utilizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills to effect positive patient outcomes. Practices within the scope of the Nurse Practice Act. The Clinical Nurse I, demonstrates accountability for leadership by directing, supervising, and coordinating the activity of ambulatory and infirmary personnel, including the Licensed Practical Nurse and other nursing support staff assigned to the area. Responsible for offering constructive suggestions of the improvement of patient care, clinical management, interdepartmental relationships, and health education of patients/detainees. Demonstrates flexibility and participates in environmental change. Demonstrates a leadership role in quality improvement and fiscal accountability.

Typical Duties

• Applies and documents all elements of the nursing process, through assessment, planning, implementing, and evaluating the delivery of care for patients of all ages (evaluates patient outcomes).
• Utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to ensure the highest quality patient care.
• Uses critical thinking and clinical judgment throughout the decision-making process.
• Delegates specific tasks to other care givers (LPN, other support staff) and assumes responsibility for all patient care.
• Works with patients, families, and other healthcare workers as necessary to assist patients to their attainable level of wellness.
• Fosters illness prevention through assessment of detainee Health Request Forms, assessment and triage of patients and focusing (promoting) patient education.
• Participates in division/unit meetings, unity/divisional decision making, cost containment and quality improvement activities.
• Supports the Department of Patient Care Services Policies/Procedures and Standards. Supports divisional/unit standards of practice and the Institutional Policies and Procedures.
• Assumes responsibility and for maintaining accountability, attendance and minimizing tardiness.
• Assumes responsibility and accountability for maintaining a minimum of 12 (twelve) hours of in-service education annually.
• Assumes responsibility and accountability for acquiring and maintaining current knowledge of Correctional Standards.
• Knowledge of policy and procedures relating to infection control, safety, fire, external and internal disasters, and other mandatory programs. Assumes accountability for compliance and attendance at educational training.
• Assumes accountability and responsibility for maintaining current professional licensure, CPR, and other professional certification.
• Contributes and assist with the orientation of new personnel.
• Administers medications according to policies and practice standards. Utilizes knowledge of Pharmacology, patho-physiology, mathematics, therapeutic dosage, signs and symptoms, side effects in the administration of medications.
• Ensures medication passage to all assigned detainees, reports and documents refusals or omissions.
• Assumes responsibility for patient rounds both on units and tiers. Assess patient need for health care services.
• Assess patients need for emergency care and initiates appropriate action.
• Demonstrates the ability to properly use emergency equipment.
• Facilitates patient transport from division/unit to the emergency room as appropriate.
• Provides supervision and support to Licensed Practical Nurses and other support staff.
• Collaborates with physicians, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and all health care team members.
• Fosters collaborative relationships with correctional staff.
• Promotes positive customer relations through a congenial attitude and support for patients, visitors, physicians, correctional staff, and other health care team members.
• Participates as requested on committees.
• Ensures consistency and compliance with established documentation policies.
• Maintains own safety and those of others within the correctional environment.
• Maintains ethics and confidentiality.
• Presents a professional appearance in attitude, dress, communication and grooming.
• Fosters own professional growth through goal setting and monitoring achievement at a minimum annually.
• Participates in process management in order to meet regulatory agency standards (National Commission on Correctional Healthcare, JCAHO, OSHA, HIPPA, and Corporate Compliance.)
• Assumes responsibility for functioning of the unit and serves as a resource person for all unity personnel.
• Reports unit problems and unity activity to House Administrator when Nurse Coordinator is not on duty.
• Makes and adjusts assignments if and as necessary and informs personnel of changes.
• Assists personnel with priority setting and delegation of work for organized workflow.
• Collaborates with support systems for adequate supplies and equipment for continuity of care for current shift and oncoming shift.
• Makes patient rounds to evaluate patient needs, accomplished care and takes accountability for patient census and care needs.
• Assumes responsibility for implementation of physician's orders and nursing directives for patient's needs.
• Communicates unit activities to Nurse Coordinator.
• Arranges staffing for oncoming shift. Provides adequate reports to charge nurse/manager.
• Utilizes critical thinking, judgment, management principals and leadership skills.
• Provides direct patient care to patients.
• Observes and collects data to facilitate patient assessment and nursing diagnosis from which a patient care plan is initiated.
• Provides written documentation regarding the patient care administered.
• Participates in team conferences, in-service presentations, staff meetings, patient care conferences and other additional training related to patient care and/or management.
• Maintains inventory of medical supplies/equipment and prepares appropriate requisitions for the acquisition of same.
• Assists in maintaining appropriate records and logs concerning clinic services.
• Assists providers in various medical tasks, assist in any emergency situation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in the State of Illinois OR the ability to obtain two weeks prior to starting employment, required.
• Current CPR card is required. (Must provide proof at time of interview)

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) year recent, within the last three (3) years, paid clinical experience in acute care or an ambulatory facility is preferred.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification is preferred.
• Drug/alcohol dependency or case management experience is preferred.
• A Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing is preferred.

Knoweldge, Skills, Abilities And Other Characteristics

• Knowledge of Medical Surgical Standards of Care
• Knowledge of skin and wound care
• Knowledge of hypertensive and their side effects
• Knowledge of care and management of the diabetic patient
• Knowledge of fluids and electrolytes
• Basic knowledge and understanding of routine labs.
• Knowledge of Ambulatory Care standards
• Basic knowledge of nursing management of the oncological patient
• Basic knowledge of nursing management of the patient with respiratory disturbances, TB, asthma
• Knowledge of demonstrated skills in nursing management of renal patients.
• Good physical assessment skills
• Basic knowledge of nursing management of the patients with head trauma and neurological disturbances
• Basic knowledge of nursing management of the patients with musculo-skeletal challenges
• Basic knowledge of nursing management of the patient requiring restorative care
• Competent skills in managing the patient requiring intravenous therapy.
• Competent skills in acquiring venous access.
• Competent skills in blood drawing
• Competent skills in point of care testing
• Demonstrated ability to inset and manage patients with naso-gastric tubes and digestive disturbances.

VETERAN PREFERENCE

When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service.

To Take Advantage Of This Preference a Veteran Must

• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, “Are you a Military Veteran?”
• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable.

OR

A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver’s License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.

Benefits Package

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan and Deferred Compensation Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
• 100% Tuition Reimbursement for nursing-related programs
• You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

For further information on our excellent benefits package, please click on the following link: http://www.cookcountyrisk.com/

MUST MEET ALL REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF APPLICATION FILING.

Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States' territories and Canada must be credentialed by an approved U.S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.

• Please note all offers of Employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.
• CCHHS is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.

COOK COUNTY GOVERNMENT HEALTH AND HOSPITALS SYSTEM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Job Posting

Sep 14, 2026, 11:45:52 AM

Collective Bargaining Unit

NNOC Nurses

Organization

Health and Hospital Systems