Forensic Nurse, Senior (Clinical Lead) (At-Will)

Purpose.  Reward.  Balance.  

Have you ever wondered if you are truly contributing toward something meaningful?  If you’re looking for something more rewarding that isn’t based on profits, consider serving the community you live in.  

Public service is a fulfilling career choice; not only does it provide an immense sense of purpose it also impacts you financially as well.  We may not be the most competitive on salary, but we offer an amazing value to our employees including highly sought after retirement plans and extremely affordable benefit costs.  In the long run, Pinal County is an excellent choice to fulfill your heart and soul along with funding your retirement! 

Pinal County paves the way to work/life balance.  Where else can you find paid sabbaticals every five years plus generous paid time off?  

Check out all of our benefit offerings: 

Working at Pinal County is an investment in YOU.  

Apply today and find out why Pinal County is more than just a job. 

Before you apply, watch this video to learn helpful tips to completing an application at Pinal County: Application Tips 

Read more about the position and see if it is a good match for you:

• An Employer that Values Each Employee and Prioritizes a Work Experience that Provides Ample Time for Stress Reduction and Work Life Balance. 

• Paid Vacation And Sick Leave

  • 15 Vacation Days Accrued Annually Starting Day One

    • After Three (3) Years of Service 18 Vacation Days Accrued Annually

    • After Five (5) Years of Service 20 Vacation Days Accrued Annually

• Ten Paid Holidays   One Paid Floating Holiday to Use as You Wish

• 13 Sick Leave Days Accrued Annually Starting Day One

• Paid Sabbaticals Every Five (5) Years

  • Two Week Sabbatical After Five Years of Continuous Service

  • Three Week Sabbatical After Ten Years of Continuous Service

  • Four Week Sabbatical After Fifteen Years of Continuous Service

  • Four Week Sabbaticals Every Five Years After Fifteen Years of Continuous Service

•   Comprehensive Wellness Program

  • Quarterly Wellness Challenges 

  • Vision Exams and Optometry Events Onsite

  • Vaccination Clinics

  • Onsite Mammogram and Prostate Screening Events

  • Skin Cancer Screening Events Onsite

  • Biometrics and Health Screening Events Onsite

  • Financial Health and Retirement Planning Events Onsite & Online

  • Fitness Resources and Onsite Sessions Like Yoga and Tai Chi

• Retirement Plans with Generous Employer Contributions - Guaranteed Lifetime Benefit!

• Variety of Top Tier Affordable Medical Plans - Six Different Medical Plans to Choose From

  • Some Medical Plans with Zero Employee Premium Cost

• Dental and Vision Plans 

• Tuition Reimbursement Program

• Alternative Work Schedules

• Telehealth 

• Qualified Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program through the Dept of Education

• Employee Assistance Program with Ongoing Training & Development Options

• Civil Service Leave 

• VanPool Options

• Short-Term Disability – Employer Paid

• Basic Life Insurance - Employer Paid

• Flexible Spending Accounts for Dependent Care and Medical Expenses

• Suite of Voluntary Benefits including additional Life, Accident, Critical Illness & Cancer Insurance 

Plus, work with an amazing team of people who are committed to making Pinal County a great place for its citizens and its employees.  

JOB SUMMARY 
This position serves as a valuable member of a multi-disciplinary response team, providing medical forensic examinations for patients with concerns of child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, strangulation, physical assault or other forms of violence in a trauma informed, non-judgmental manner.  Responsible for leading the forensic healthcare team and clinical practice to ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care.  Research and implement best practices and guidelines to ensure that clinical standards are maintained. Positions at this level are assigned to perform the more complex and sensitive duties in the forensic healthcare field. Judgment must be exercised in analyzing facts or circumstances surrounding issues. Work often requires development of recommendations and independent actions consistent with policies, general directives, and both local and national forensic nurse guidelines. Discretion is required in the application of procedures and guidelines and in selection of appropriate resources for use in accomplishing assigned work.

This position is not a covered position under the Pinal County Merit System Rules. Incumbents in this position serve at the pleasure of their respective Appointing Authority. The employment relationship is "at-will" and employment may be terminated at any time, for any reason, with or without cause.Work in this classification requires an individual to be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary classification functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this classification may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in this classification description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this description. 

TYPICAL CLASSIFICATION ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Oversee the clinical operations of the medical forensic nurse program, working in conjunction with the Family Advocacy Division Manager and the Medical Director.
• Actively participate in the interviewing and hiring process and ensure the successful on boarding of new forensic nurses.
• Monitor service delivery to ensure quality standards and clinical best practices are adhered to, reporting progress and challenges back to the Family Advocacy Division Manager.
• Stay current on quality standards and best practices in forensic examinations, including for acute and delayed sexual assault, physical assault, physical child abuse, neglect, trafficking and strangulation. 
• Develop and present training programs on medical forensic topics as needed.
• Attend training for ongoing education and career development as needed.
• Oversight and coordination of the forensic nurse on-call schedule.
• Provide support to the Family Advocacy Division Manager in developing and implementing programs and goals for Forensic Nurses.
• Serve as a clinical lead for the forensic nurse team, providing clinical direction and consultation as needed.
• Work with Medical Director to develop and retain highly competent, trained staff that further develop and support the forensic nurse program. 
• Oversee the development and implementation of documentation procedures for the medical forensic program.
• Review clinical work of the forensic nursing team to provide consultation, feedback and guidance as well as to identify training needs. 
• Conduct quality assurance reviews to ensure adherence to policies, procedures and established standards of practice.
• Order all medications and supplies necessary for program implementation. 
• Assess the status of the patient and addresses acute medical concerns and stabilization of the patient; completes thorough medical history, assault history and a detailed physical examination, including systems review and developmental status. 
• Perform medical forensic examinations of minor children and adolescents reporting abuse and neglect. 
• Perform medical forensic examinations of adolescents and adults reporting sexual assault. 
• Perform medical forensic examinations of adolescents and adults reporting physical assault, domestic violence, strangulation or other interpersonal violence. 
• Collect evidence, samples, and photo documentation of injuries as part of the medical exam. 
• Manage patient care
• Conduct counseling regarding sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, injury care, strangulation dangers, and patient and family safety. 
• Administer preventative medications. 
• Collaborate with patient, their family and healthcare team. 
• Complete medical documentation.
• Maintain chain of custody for all evidence. 
• Perform post mortem sexual assault exams as requested by the Chief Medical Examiner. 
• Promote and adheres to the workplace values of accountability, commitment, and teamwork to help enrich lives beyond expectation. 
• Maintain HIPAA compliance and absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, customer records and restricted County information.
• Perform other related duties as required. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing. 
• Have practiced for a minimum of three (3) years as a Registered Nurse (RN).
• A minimum of one year of medical forensic nursing experience, and a minimum of one year of supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. 
• Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing with a valid unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse issued by the Arizona State Board of Nursing (or a state recognized by licensure compact). 
• Successful completion of the 40 hour didactic course on Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Pediatrics (SANE-P) (content approved by the International Association of Forensic Nursing).
• Successful completion of the 40 hour didactic course, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Adolescent/Adult (SANE-A) (content approved by the International Association of Forensic Nursing).
• Preceptorship of a minimum of 36 hours clinical – onsite at a forensic nurse program. 
• SANE-A and SANE-P Certification.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification.
• Valid Driver’s License with Arizona Driver’s License within 30 days of hire. 
• Ability to respond to medical forensic exam within 90 minutes of call.

Preferred Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Nursing.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
• Experience testifying in criminal or civil matters. 
• Experience in working collaboratively with community partners such as victim advocates, other healthcare providers or criminal justice system professionals. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of dynamics of interpersonal violence and trauma-informed care. 
• Knowledge of techniques and methods of forensic nursing for victims throughout the life span. 
• Knowledge of community resources for appropriate referrals. 
• Knowledge of research and evidence-based support for medical forensic nursing methods and procedures. 
• Knowledge of criminal justice system, including criteria for testifying as fact or expert witness. 
• Knowledge of principles and practices of program development. 
• Knowledge of basic methods used to maintain facilities. 
• Knowledge of basic safety precautions. 
• Skilled in critical thinking skills and decisive judgment. 
• Skilled in the use of medical instruments, laboratory equipment and forensic photo-documentation equipment. 
• Skilled in conducting forensic medical assessments and applying forensic medical practices including collection of biological and trace evidence 
• Skilled in communicating with victims and their families regarding evidence collection, treatment recommendations and reporting to law enforcement. 
• Skilled in safely using tools, equipment, and chemicals. 
• Skilled in phlebotomy 
• Ability to direct the planning, organizing and integration of a comprehensive forensic nurse program in Pinal County. 
• Ability to exercise tact, diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex and confidential issues and situations. 
• Ability to work with minimal supervision. 
• Ability to apply trauma-informed care principles to provision of care. 
• Ability to exercise initiative and judgment in selecting proper treatment. 
• Ability to follow and maintain safety standards. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 
The work is light and requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.  The work also requires the ability to finger, handle, reach, perform repetitive motion, kneel, lift, speak, hear, stoop, walk, operate motor vehicles and demonstrate mental and visual acuity.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 
Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires the ability to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs. 

Notice to Applicants:
We appreciate your interest in our employment opportunities. At Pinal County, we value professionalism and treating others with respect. If these values are not demonstrated throughout the application and interview process we reserve the right to remove your candidacy from consideration and may impact your future Pinal County applications.

The hiring salary for this position is dependent upon experience, qualifications and position funding; starting salaries above the midpoint require additional approval.

Salary : $66,920 - $107,072