Entry Level Forensic Lab Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 872570 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SENIOR LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE-F/C OPS - 60957231

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 60957231 

Salary:  $25 per hour 

Posting Closing Date: 06/25/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida's social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency's mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center (NFETC) is a 216 bed, all male, forensic, mental health rehabilitation facility. The Center is located in northeast Gainesville, Florida on 639 picturesque acres with regular sightings of deer, turkey and other wildlife. NFETC employs a variety of entry level to leadership positions including food service, maintenance, direct care, nurses, counselors, rehab therapists, medical doctors, security, psychiatrists, and psychologists.

NORTH FLORIDA EVALUATION AND TREATMENT FACILITY IS A TOBACCO FREE FACILITY.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

20 HOURS PER WEEK.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Senior Licensed Practical Nurse F/C - OPS within the Nursing Unit. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• This position requires lifting, pulling, and squatting.  Duties of this position require the incumbent to be knowledgeable of and utilize the principles of Total Quality Management.  The employee in this position spends a minimum of 75% of his/her time performing duties as outlined on official position description. "Nursing staff will provide guidance in the care and treatment of residents".
• The incumbent of this position provides practical nursing services to residents assigned under the direction of a Senior Physician and includes working with multi-disciplinary staff while caring for residents in a psychiatric/medical setting.
• Specific duties and responsibilities are as follows:

• 1. Administer oral and injectable medication and controlled medications in accordance to Unit Dose Policy/Procedure/Guidelines (OP 150-35) and within their scope of practice in a mental health setting within the timeframes specified with completion of paperwork as required.
  2. Participates in Hospital Infection Control process/program with reporting of potential infections to Registered Nurse/Physician for follow-up care and documentation in required forms.
  3. Prepares paperwork, administers medications/preps as required for consults to EKG, EEG, X-ray, clinics, outside appointments.
  4. Assists physician/APRN/PA during sick call, physical examinations with documentation and routing of referrals/consults, labs as required.
  5. Coordinates resident's appointments with ward staff making sure medications are given as required to resident prior to leaving and paperwork given to staff accompanying resident.
  6. Provide emergency medical/psychiatric treatment within the scope of practice and notify Registered Nurse/Physician/APRN/PA for assistance as soon as possible.
  7. Inputs lab orders as assigned or per physician/APRN/PA orders.
  8. Reports any problems with medical/nursing equipment to nurse for follow-up.
  9. Responsive and compliant with current resident rights and advocacy issues; adheres to and complies with unit/hospital and departmental policy, procedures, guidelines
  10. Admits and transfers resident to and from other units or outside sources with assistance to Registered Nurse for required admission workup and care.
  11. Prints Medication Profile from HCS to attach to Discharge forms.
• Assess resident complaints and determine action, notifies doctor when necessary, receives and records verbal and written orders from physician. 
• Completes incident reports. 
• Completes progress notes on resident care in accordance with North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center Operating Procedures/Guidelines, provide documentation in accordance with standards.
• Observes for side effects or adverse effects to medication and reports to registered nurse/physician/APRN/PA for assessment and follow-up care as needed.
• Schedules, holds and documents Medication Education groups or 1:1 sessions as assigned/needed to increase resident's knowledge of medications prescribed and compliance to medication/treatment regimen.
• Maintains/cleans/inventories medical/nursing equipment and supplies in assigned areas with ordering/re-stocking of supplies needed to provide adequate supplies for the residents issues/needs.
• Performs other related duties as required to meet the needs of the department and resident's quality care.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of nursing principles and techniques. 

• Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. 

• Skill in the use of medical equipment and instruments used in providing nursing care. 

• Ability to demonstrate manual dexterity in providing nursing care. 

• Ability to administer medications and treatments. 

• Ability to work with patients. 

• Ability to interpret and follow medical instructions. 

• Ability to observe patients' symptoms and reactions to treatment. 

• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments. 

• Ability to communicate effectively. 

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Licensure as a practical nurse in accordance with Florida Statute 464 or eligible to practice nursing in accordance with Florida Administrative Code 210-8.22 or 8.27 and two years of professional nursing experience. 

Candidate Profile (application) Requirements:

Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.

• Work History - entered with the most recent/current listed first:
• Any and all State of Florida jobs
• Any and all Florida University jobs
• All periods of employment
• Periods of unemployment
• Gaps 3 months or more*
• Education
• Volunteer Experience
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers including current place of employment.
• *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed - you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.
• For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

#SAMH

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.