Registered Nurse

LTS is looking for a Registered Nurse (RN) to join our team and support a program with ICE Detention Center – Contract Healthcare Provider.

Position Summary
The Registered Nurse (RN) provides comprehensive nursing care to ICE detainees in a secure detention environment. The RN is responsible for clinical assessment, medication administration, care coordination, emergency response, and documentation in accordance with state nursing licensure, ICE Performance-Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS), applicable laws, and contractual requirements. The RN works collaboratively with medical providers, nursing staff, and custody personnel to ensure safe, timely, and appropriate detainee healthcare.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical Care

• Provide direct nursing care to detainees, including health assessments, monitoring of acute and chronic conditions, and delivery of prescribed treatments.
• Execute physician, Nurse Practitioner, and Physician Assistant orders accurately and in a timely manner.
• Administer medications, including controlled substances, in accordance with licensure, pharmacy laws, and facility policies.
• Perform comprehensive nursing assessments, obtain medical histories, record vital signs, and document clinical findings.
• Assist with and perform approved medical procedures within scope of practice.
• Monitor detainees with chronic illnesses, high-risk medical conditions, or potentially catastrophic health concerns and promptly report changes to medical providers.
• Respond to medical emergencies, provide life-saving interventions, and assist with stabilization and transfer to higher levels of care as necessary.
• Participate in on-call rotation as required by facility operations.
• Coordinate detainee care with physicians, NPs, PAs, mental health staff, and custody personnel.
• Assist with scheduling and coordinating off-site specialty care, diagnostic services, and hospitalizations.
• Monitor detainee inpatient hospitalizations and support discharge planning and continuity of care upon return to the facility.
• Accurately and timely document all nursing care, medication administration, and treatments in detainee medical records.
• Maintain confidentiality, security, and integrity of detainee health information in compliance with HIPAA, ICE standards, and facility policies.
• Review medical records to ensure all services provided are properly documented and complete.
• Adhere to ICE PBNDS, nursing standards of practice, facility policies, procedures, and contractual obligations.
• Participate in quality assurance, utilization review, and infection control activities as required.
• Support accreditation and compliance efforts (NCCHC, ACA, JCAHO, as applicable).
• Identify and report safety issues, incidents, and unusual occurrences according to facility procedures.
• Ensure medical equipment and treatment areas are clean, safe, and compliant with infection control standards.
• Perform duties in a secure detention environment, including working in confined areas and rotating shifts.
• Maintain awareness of and compliance with detention facility security procedures.
• Communicate professionally and effectively with detainees, staff, and outside providers.
• Recognize that verbal abuse or confrontational behavior may occur and respond calmly, respectfully, and appropriately.
• Take appropriate action to prevent or de-escalate potentially disruptive situations.
• Remain alert and capable of responding effectively in emergency and high-stress situations.

Qualifications

• Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Minimum of two (2) years of clinical nursing experience; correctional, detention, emergency, or acute care experience strongly preferred.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Must be up to date with immunizations. 
• Ability to pass required background investigation, credentialing, and security clearance for ICE detention facilities.
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, and on-call assignments.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a secure ICE detention facility.
• Exposure to communicable diseases and potentially volatile situations.
• Physical demands include standing, walking, bending, lifting, and responding rapidly to medical emergencies.