Licensed Vocational Nurse - Custody Health Services, Exam: 26-S85-A

The County of Santa Clara Custody Health Services is hiring Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs). We have Multiple Openings!

PLEASE NOTE: A County of Santa Clara application is required to be submitted online via the governmentjobs.com website in order to move forward in the recruitment process. To submit an application, press “Apply Externally” and create an account. Applications submitted through Handshake will not be accepted. 

Submit your application today: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/santaclara/jobs/5254816/licensed-vocational-nurse-custody-health-services

Custody Health Services (CHS) provides medical, mental health, and dental services to patients in custody at the 4 County Jail facilities: Main Jail, Elmwood, Juvenile Hall, and James Ranch. CHS provides on-site routine and urgent/emergent medical services at both Main Jail and Elmwood adult detention facilities in Santa Clara County.  Health care of incarcerated men and women includes care of acute and chronic illness as well as preventative and specialty care.  CHS also runs a 40-bed acute psychiatric inpatient housing unit at the Main Jail. The services are provided for adult male and female patients who require acute inpatient services for stabilization.  Juvenile Custody Health provides integrated medical services to justice involved youth housed in Juvenile Hall and in James Ranch to include comprehensive pediatric medical, mental health, and dental care.

Selected candidate(s) must be able to work in a correctional facility, which requires passing a background check for security clearance.

NOTE: Applicants who meet the employment standards will be invited to take an online examination tentatively scheduled for the week of April 20, 2026.

Description

Under general supervision, performs semiprofessional nursing work relating to the care and treatment to patients; may function as a team leader over other nonprofessional nursing personnel.

Typical Tasks

• Administers routine medications and treatments as prescribed;
   
• Takes and records temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure of patients;
   
• Observes condition of patients and reports unusual conditions to supervisors;
   
• Assists medical or professional nursing staff in examinations or special procedures;
   
• Catheterizes patients and give enemas;
   
• Provides general patient care, such as bathing, feeding and turning patients;
   
• Assists in providing postpartum and nursery care;
   
• Maintains patients' charts and other records;
   
• Assists in providing care to children, such as in examinations, acceptance of medications and restriction of activities;
   
• Collects specimens for laboratory analysis;
   
• Assists in the operation of special equipment such as inhalation and suction therapy;
   
• May function as team leader over other nonprofessional nursing personnel or have charge responsibilities on the late shifts in chronic care patient areas;
   
• Cleans and sterilizes medical supplies and equipment;
   
• Performs other related work as required.

Employment Standards

Training and experience equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade and graduation from an accredited school of vocational nursing.

Possession of a current valid license as a vocational nurse issued by the California State Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners.

Qualification Note: The licensing requirement is met if the candidate has, in accordance with California Business and Professions Code Section 2867.6 relating to Interim Permits, proof of passing the licensure examination, and is demonstrated by either a receipt for the initial license fee required by subdivision (e) of Code Section 2895 or a temporary certificate issued to practice by the Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners of the State of California.

Knowledge of:

• Practical nursing theory and practice and hospital ward routines.

Ability to:

• Apply routine nursing techniques in the care and treatment of patients;
   
• Understand and carry out written and verbal instructions;
   
• Stand and walk for long periods and exercise a moderate amount of physical exertion and manual dexterity in the handling of patients or equipment;
   
• Get along well with others;
   
• Maintain medical charts and records and prepare reports.

Veterans Preference Information

This recruitment has been identified as non-entry level by the Human Resources Director. Any veteran who has submitted a copy of their DD 214 form, and received an honorable discharge within the last five years, will be given a preferential credit of five percent (ten percent for those identified as disabled veteran's), after attaining a passing examination score for a numerically scored examination.