Licensed Vocational Nurse

General Summary:

The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) within both Brazos County Detention Center and Brazos County Juvenile Justice Center. This role ensures the delivery of safe, compliant, and effective patient care to incarcerated individuals while supervising nursing and support staff. The registered nurse collaborates with correctional officers, providers, and administrative personnel to promote patient well-being, manage clinical operations, and maintain adherence to state, federal, and accreditation standards.

Essential Duties:

1. Patient Care Delivery

o Provide direct nursing care to incarcerated individuals, including assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation.

o Administer medications and treatments according to physician orders and facility protocols.

o Respond to medical emergencies and perform triage and stabilization as needed.

2. Health Assessments

o Conduct intake health screenings for new inmates.

o Perform routine and follow-up physical assessments.

o Identify and monitor chronic health conditions.

3. Medical Documentation

o Accurately document patient assessments, treatments, and responses in the electronic medical record (EMR).

o Maintain compliance with legal, regulatory, and facility documentation standards.

4. Care Coordination

o Collaborate with physicians, mental health professionals, and other healthcare staff to coordinate patient care.

o Refer patients to higher levels of care when necessary.

5. Infection Control & Health Education

o Implement and follow infection control procedures.

o Educate inmates on health maintenance, chronic disease management, and medication adherence.

6. Medication Management

o Prepare, dispense, and monitor medications safely.

o Observe for and report adverse drug reactions.

7. Security & Safety Compliance

o Follow all facility safety, security, and operational procedures.

o Maintain appropriate boundaries and awareness of safety risks unique to the correctional environment.

8. Guidance and Supervision of Unlicensed Staff

o Provide direction, oversight, and mentorship to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs), including Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), Medical Assistants (MAs), or Correctional Health Aides.

o Monitor performance and provide feedback or corrective action as needed.

o Ensure that unlicensed staff follow infection control, safety protocols, and documentation standards.

9. Mental Health Support

o Recognize signs of mental health crises and initiate appropriate interventions.

o Collaborate with mental health staff to support inmates with psychiatric needs.

10. Legal and Ethical Compliance

o Maintain confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA regulations.

o Comply with all state and federal laws relevant to nursing practice in correctional facilities.

Other Duties as assigned.

Supervision

Received: Nurse Manager; Medical Manager, and Medical Authority, Registered Nurses

Given: Medical Assistants (Correctional), Records Management, Medical Clerk

Education

Required: Graduated from a Texas Board of Nursing-approved vocational nursing program and LVN License (active and unencumbered) issued from the Texas Board of Nursing.

Preferred: Graduated from a Texas Board of Nursing-approved vocational nursing program and LVN License (active and unencumbered) issued from the Texas Board of Nursing.

Experience

Required: 2-3 Years

Preferred: 3+ years' experience

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Required: Valid Texas Driver's License

Licensed Vocational Nurse – Texas Board of Nursing (active and unencumbered)

Basic First Aid / CPR Certificate

Preferred: Valid Texas Driver's License

Licensed Vocational Nurse – Texas Board of Nursing (active and unencumbered)

Basic First Aid / CPR Certificate

Physical Demands

Typical: Physical demands for an LVN include long periods of standing, sitting, and walking, as well as frequent bending, stooping, reaching, and pushing/pulling. Specific job duties may require lifting patients or objects (up to 50 pounds, though this varies), using fine motor skills for procedures, and possessing normal vision and hearing. Some registered nurses have small amounts of travel to clinical sites, working extended or on-call hours, and the physical demands of handling infectious diseases.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Chronic disease management
• o High prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and COPD in incarcerated populations.
• Infectious disease control

o Knowledge of TB, MRSA, STDs, and outbreak management in confined populations.

• Psychiatric and behavioral health

o Common conditions include PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and substance use disorders.o Understanding medication-assisted treatment (MAT), detox protocols, and managing withdrawal symptoms safely.o Sensitivity to histories of abuse, neglect, or trauma common among inmates.o Knowledge of drug formulary restrictions, controlled substance handling, and medication diversion risks.o Informed consent, confidentiality, refusal of care, involuntary treatment, and legal liability.o High prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and COPD in incarcerated populations.o Knowledge of TB, MRSA, STDs, and outbreak management in confined populations.o Common conditions include PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and substance use disorders.o Understanding medication-assisted treatment (MAT), detox protocols, and managing withdrawal symptoms safely.o Sensitivity to histories of abuse, neglect, or trauma common among inmates.o Knowledge of drug formulary restrictions, controlled substance handling, and medication diversion risks.o Informed consent, confidentiality, refusal of care, involuntary treatment, and legal liability.Special Skills

• Addiction medicine and withdrawal protocols
• Trauma-informed care
• Pharmacology in restricted settings
• Legal and ethical aspects of correctional healthcare
• Chronic disease management
• Infectious disease control
• Psychiatric and behavioral health
• Addiction medicine and withdrawal protocols
• Trauma-informed care
• Pharmacology in restricted settings
• Legal and ethical aspects of correctional healthcare

These are practical competencies essential for success in a correctional setting:

• Assessment and triage
• o Accurately identifying urgent vs non-urgent cases in high-demand, low-resource environments.
• Autonomous clinical decision-making

o Comfort making medical decisions independently, often with limited access to a physician.

• Crisis intervention and de-escalation

o Managing behavioral outbursts, psychiatric crises, or medical emergencies safely and effectively.o Collaborating with correctional officers while maintaining patient confidentiality and safety.o Precise, legally defensible medical recordkeeping, incident reports, and follow-ups.o Working with diverse populations, including marginalized and underserved individuals.

• Effective communication with security staff
• Documentation and legal reporting
• Cultural competence and interpersonal skills

Work Environment

Typical: Correctional Facilities:

• Juveniles ages 10 years of age to 18 years of age, male and female patients.
• Adults age 18 +, male and female patients.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: Up to $33.66 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person