Correctional Health Nurse (Open & Promotional)

Correctional Health Nurse (Open & Promotional)

Salary

$157,081.60 - $185,619.20 Annually

Location

County of San Mateo, CA

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

F018R

Department

Correctional Health Services

Opening Date

10/07/2026

Closing Date

10/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

25

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

San Mateo County Healths Correctional Health Services (CHS) is seeking skilled and compassionate Correctional Health Nurses to join its multidisciplinary healthcare team. This is an opportunity for experienced nursing professionals who thrive in dynamic clinical environments, exercise sound independent judgment, and are committed to providing quality, patient-centered care to individuals within the correctional system.

Correctional Health Services plays an essential role in promoting the health, safety, and well-being of incarcerated individuals by delivering comprehensive medical, dental, mental health, and substance use treatment services. Working in a secure correctional environment, nurses care for patients with a wide range of acute, chronic, and complex healthcare needs while collaborating closely with medical, behavioral health, and custody personnel.

This position offers a unique opportunity to expand your clinical expertise, practice with a high degree of autonomy, and make a meaningful difference in an underserved patient population.

Current Vacancies

We are currently recruiting for:

• Two regular, benefited full-time position (1.0 FTE).
• Several Extra-Help and Relief Correctional Health Nurse positions, with a variety of shifts available.

Assignments may be located at any of the Countys three correctional facilities:

• Maguire Correctional Center - Redwood City

• Maple Street Correctional Center - Redwood City

• Youth Services Center - San Mateo

Under general direction, Correctional Health Nurses independently perform the full range of professional nursing duties, exercise advanced clinical judgment and may provide lead direction to nursing and paraprofessional personnel. Responsibilities include patient assessment and triage, medication administration, treatment planning, emergency intervention, patient education, and coordination of ongoing care.

About Correctional Health Services

Correctional Health Services provides integrated healthcare to San Mateo Countys incarcerated adult population, along with medical and dental services for youth in custody.

Services include:

• Medical Care: Health screenings, acute and chronic disease management, patient education, and 24-hour emergency response. Clinical services address conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and HIV, as well as obstetric, orthopedic, and urgent care needs.
• Dental Care: Treatment and medication for urgent dental conditions, including extractions, for adults and youth.
• Mental Health Services: Crisis intervention, psychiatric evaluation and treatment, medication management, behavioral support, and continuing care referrals.
• Behavioral Health and Recovery: Day treatment through the Life Skills Program at Maguire and Maple Street Correctional Centers, group therapy, and cognitive behavioral approaches to addiction and recovery.
• Reentry Services: Care coordination, education, and referrals to support continuity of care as individuals transition back into the community.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a clinically versatile and adaptable nursing professional with prior experience in correctional health, emergency department, or urgent care settings. The candidate demonstrates sound clinical judgment, compassion, and the ability to deliver safe, efficient, and patient-centered care in a fast-paced, secure environment.

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, successful candidates will demonstrate:

• A strong clinical foundation in correctional health, emergency nursing, medical/surgical nursing, or other settings involving complex patient care.
• Knowledge of mental health nursing and the ability to recognize and respond appropriately to psychiatric and behavioral health needs including recovery services.
• Strong assessment, triage, and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to identify changes in patient conditions and respond effectively to medical or psychiatric emergencies.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to safely administer medications to more than 100 patients within an eight-hour shift.
• Confidence working independently while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary healthcare teams and custody personnel.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish professional, therapeutic relationships with patients from diverse backgrounds.
• Adaptability, professionalism, and the ability to maintain patient safety, confidentiality, and appropriate boundaries within a locked correctional facility.
• A commitment to evidence-based nursing practices, patient advocacy, and continuity of care.
• Experience in OB/GYN, pediatrics, or psychiatric care is also desirable but not required.
• Candidates must also be available to work assigned shifts within a locked correctional facility, including weekends.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Complete patient assessments and triage, record patient histories, symptoms and observations.
• Establish and implement nursing care plans for each patient through assessment, development, activation and evaluation.
• Participate in patient case conferences and rounds.
• Organize, assign and supervise duties and responsibilities of other staff members as a team leader; orient and teach new staff members of the nursing team and students.
• Perform nursing care following prescribed rules, policies, protocol and procedures.
• Identify problems, assist in data gathering, propose solutions and participate in evaluation of quality assurance issues.
• Work with patient and their families to provide in-hospital and after-hospital follow-up through teaching and referral.
• Participate in educational programs to maintain level of expertise.
• Participate in non-clinical assignments, which may include maintaining records, preparing reports and/or serving on special committees.
• Maintain records and prepare reports both Electronic and Paper format.
• Operate a variety of medical machinery and equipment.
• Administer treatment and medications.
• Maintain knowledge of outpatient resources.
• Develop discharge plans for patients.
• Perform related duties as assigned and as required by assigned work setting, as described below.

Duties for nurses in this series may also include the following:

• Perform professional nursing duties within a locked correctional facility.
• Check vital signs, give injections, and perform catherizations, IZ Registry and Point of Care Testing.
• Start, maintain and discontinue intravenous lines and draw labs.
• Monitor patient rehabilitation.
• Perform Physical Exams and mental status exams and implement plan of care based on assessment findings.
• Monitor patients in restraint and seclusion and maintain patient safety.
• Determine medical or psychiatric emergency need and provide intervention.
• Recognize symptoms of major psychiatric diagnosis.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Security Clearance:

Positions in Correctional Health require that the applicant obtain and maintain a security clearance as a condition of employment.

Licensure/Certification:

Possession of a California license as a Registered Nurse or equivalent and a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Knowledge of:

• Nurse Practice Act.
• Current nursing and related medical theory and skills necessary to administer nursing care within assigned clinical setting.
• Safety and infection control practices.
• Clinical systems, supplies and equipment.

Skill/Ability to:

• Nurse Practice Act.
• Perform nursing procedures required for assigned clinical setting.
• Comply with clinical procedures and policies.
• Maintain professional nurse-patient relationships.
• Communicate with and educate patients, families, and the public who come from a diverse background.
• Work harmoniously with other personnel.
• Follow safety practices.
• Assist in the instruction of other nursing and paraprofessional personnel.
• Bend, kneel and squat as needed.
• Occasionally use upper extremities to exert force to push and pull patients/objects weighing up to 50 pounds or more.
• Work in a busy environment.

Application/Examination

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the Countys website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the Countys website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline

Final Filing Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 11:59PM PST

Application Screening: Week of October 26, 2026

Panel Interviews: Week of November 23, 2026

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. We seek to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community, and we encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer.

HR Analyst: Priscilla Bermudez (100726) (Correctional Health Nurse - F018)

We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.

01

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants must submit responses to the supplemental questions below. These responses are a critical part of the evaluation process and will be carefully reviewed by subject matter experts. Responses should be clear, detailed, and concise, describing your relevant work experience, training, and education as they relate to this position. Please address all parts of each question and provide specific examples that reflect your individual experience and expertise. Strong responses are authentic, well-organized, and demonstrate attention to detail, clarity of expression, and the ability to follow instructions. A resume will not be accepted in place of the required responses.

• Proceed to supplemental questions.

02

NOTE: Candidates for this position will be required to complete an extensive security clearance package and undergo a thorough background check conducted by the Sheriffs Department prior to being offered a position. The successful candidate must be cleared to work in and around a locked facility and detainees.

• Please proceed to the supplemental questions.

03

Possession of a current California license as a Registered Nurse is required to qualify for this recruitment. Do you possess a current California license as a Registered Nurse? (Please include your license number on the Certificates & Licenses section of the application. A "No" answer will disqualify you from this recruitment.)

• Yes
• No

04

Possession of a current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certificate is required for this recruitment. Do you possess a current Basic Life Support Certificate? (Please include information on the Certificates & Licenses section of the application.) A "No" answer will disqualify you from this recruitment.)

• Yes
• No

05

Describe your professional nursing experience, including the clinical settings and patient populations you have served. Include any experience in correctional health, emergency care, medical/surgical, mental health, or other relevant settings.

06

Describe your experience managing competing clinical priorities in a fast-paced environment, including medication administration, patient assessment, and responding to urgent or emergent patient needs.

07

Describe your experience providing care to patients with complex medical, behavioral health, or substance use needs, including your approach to interdisciplinary collaboration and continuity of care.

08

Correctional Health Experience - Considering your previous paid work experience, education and training, select all task(s) you have performed. (Check all that apply.)

• Administration of medication to 100+ patients within an 8-hour shift
• Administration of intravenous medication
• Check vital signs
• Give injections
• Perform phlebotomy
• Provide wound care
• Perform catheterizations
• Perform Point of Care Testing (e.g. urinalysis, hemoglobin, glucose, strep, finger-sticks)
• Pain management
• Patient education and health promotion
• Chronic disease management
• Provide care to patients across the life span
• Follow established procedures
• No paid work experience, but willing to learn

09

Correctional Health Experience - Considering your previous paid work experience, education and training, how long have you performed the task(s) selected?

• 3 years or more
• More than 2 years but less than 3 years
• 1 year or more but less than 2 years
• Less than 1 year
• Never, but willing to learn

10

Correctional Health Experience - Considering your previous work experience, education and training, in what context / environment did you most often perform the task(s) selected?

• Correctional Health Facility
• Outpatient Clinic or Physicians Office
• Hospital Facility
• During an internship, externship or preceptorship
• In a classroom or academic setting
• No experience, but willing to learn

11

County of San Mateo departments sometimes need extra-help workers in addition to permanent employees. Extra Help positions offer temporary part-time or temporary full-time employment for 1040 hours (which equates to working full-time for approximately six months). However, employment might end sooner depending on the needs of the hiring departments. Extra Help positions are paid on an hourly rate basis. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra-help workers are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the extra-help assignment. Are you interested in extra-help employment? (A "No" answer to this question will not affect your application for permanent employment.)

• Yes
• No

12

How did you learn about this position?

• County of San Mateo Website
• County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
• County Hosted Virtual Event
• County Hosted Job Fair
• CalOpps.org
• College/University Career Center
• Community-based Organization Posting
• Facebook/Instagram
• Friend or Relative
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
• X (formerly called Twitter)
• Zip Recruiter
• Other (Please specify in next question)

13

If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.

Required Question

Employer County of San Mateo

Address County of San Mateo Human Resources Department

500 County Center, 4th Floor

Redwood City, California, 94063-1663

Phone (650) 363-4343

Website https://jobs.smcgov.org