Colorado State Hospital Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $43.80 - $61.31 Hourly
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: IIC 07284 07/29/26
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OBH - CMHIFL
Opening Date: 07/29/2026
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address: Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan3520 W. Oxford Ave. Denver, CO 80236
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information: curtis.padilla@state.co.us
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Department Information
This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
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.
Please note: This posting will be used to fill multiple postings. Position shifts available for: Days, Nights, Weekend, and Float.
We offer shift differentials for Nights and Weekend between 14 - 20% above base pay!
Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!
About Fort Logan:
The Colorado Mental Health Hospital 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.
Through our core values listed below, CMHHIFL staff is committed to:

• Individual dignity and respect.
• Person-centered, evidence-based care.
• Trauma informed recovery.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Diversity and inclusion.
• Strong family and community partnerships

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CDHSCareers
Description of Job
About the position:
Location: 3520 W Oxford Avenue, Denver, CO 80236
Full-Time, On-Site
Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies and shifts.
This position provides nursing leadership and direction for staff and provide therapeutic work in the psychiatric care of mentally ill patients hospitalized at CMHHIFL. Primary responsibilities are applications of knowledge, expertise and experience in providing safe and effective nursing care to patients. Duties in this position include:
Patient Care:

• Assesses plans, coordinates, provides and evaluates nursing care of patients with psychiatric and medical conditions, documenting all pertinent data
• Utilizes nursing theory and concepts to develop nursing plans of care and therapeutic interventions to support patients' recovery, such as individual counseling, psychoeducational and teaching groups, and milieu management
• Communicates the nursing plan of care to the interdisciplinary team
• Assures that appropriate documentation is completed and that essential information is shared from shift to shift and makes rounds to assess patients' psychiatric and medical statuses
• Notifies medical staff (physicians and licensed independent practitioners) of changes in patient condition and need for evaluations and orders
• Reports patient care concerns to supervisor and physicians, as indicated
• Directs, coordinates and implements medical and psychiatric crisis intervention in clinical emergencies assuring compliance with nursing standards and policies/procedures (e.g., de-escalation, seclusion/restraint, cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
• May escort patients to activities and appointments on grounds and in the community, including driving patients to appointments
• Assumes responsibility for paperwork, assuring confidentiality
• Determines whether the needs of a patient returning from a general hospital can be safely met by the nursing staff in terms of staff competency, appropriate equipment and level of staffing during own shift and proximal shifts
• Collaboration with Nurse Manager and treatment team, recommends a change in program scheduling to benefit patients

Milieu Management:

• Assures a safe, therapeutic environment for patients using nursing theory and judgment by planning and implementing milieu management techniques such as pro-actively anticipating problems, planning interventions strategies and assigning responsibilities
• During specific shifts, functions in the role of Charge Nurse and provides clinical and administrative supervision of nursing staff on duty. Assures that the care provided meets or exceeds community and professional standards. Coordinates provision of replacement staff and extra staff for high acuity, as indicated.

Medication Administration:

• Evaluates and administers medication in terms of need, effectiveness, side effects and drug interactions using nursing judgment, standards of care and policy and procedure
• Follows all policies and procedures for medical order transcription and medication administration documentation

Supervision and Delegation to Licensed and Unlicensed Assistive Personnel:

• Accountable for the work of nursing staff, mental health clinicians, nursing students, orientees and others through delegation of work assignments, assuring timely completion of work, providing clinical leadership and teaching clinical interventions
• Functions as the Charge Nurse, when assigned, and provides clinical and administrative supervision of nursing staff on duty during specific shift

Patient Teaching:

• Assesses and teaches preventative health care, illness management, coping skills, social skills, living skills, and indications/side effects of medications to patient and family
• Supports patients in building skills and improving their sense of self-efficacy through patient teaching

Interdisciplinary treatment planning and treatment implementation:

• Provides nursing input, as a member of the inter-disciplinary team, into treatment planning and unit programming
• Serves as a liaison/communication link between patient, family, doctor, other health professionals, ancillary staff, and supervisors exchanging information and clarifying rationales for plans and interventions

Maintains Skills/Competence:

• Maintains updated skills, knowledge, abilities and competencies necessary to the position through continuing education, clinical supervision, literature review, and participating in discipline and team development

.Other Duties as Assigned:

• Other duties as assigned

This entry level position offers great opportunity for advancement! Ask us how!
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Minimum Qualifications:
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
Special Qualifications:

• Due to the juvenile population served at the MHI facilities, incumbents of this position must be at least 21 years of age.

Conditions of employment:

• Full Background check and reference check required
• Shift Work - may work days, evenings, or nights
• Essential Services Designation - Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare
• must possess a valid, unrestricted CO Driver's License
• must be at least 21 years of age or older
• may be exposed to bodily fluids or caustic chemicals
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination, or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Conditions of Employment:

1. Disclose that information on the application.
2. Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
3. 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 in the application form. 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 reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing.
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 the State Personnel Board website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.
• You can find the official appeal form here.
• 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 acknowledgement 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 the Rules webpage.

Supplemental Information
How