State of Connecticut Executive Branch

In the Departments of Children and Families and Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Correction Inmate Health Services this class is accountable for conducting individual, group or family therapy, performing clinical assessments, history taking and mental status examinations.

This class is the practitioner level nurse. Generally the incumbents work with difficult clients and/or patients providing therapy with only minimal supervision. The emphasis of this class is the expanded role of the nurse who provides psychotherapeutic care beyond the traditional nursing function. This class may have limited responsibility for training or educational activities and may assist in individual on the job orientation and training in psychotherapy.

Works under the limited supervision of a Lead Nurse Clinician, physician, Director of Nursing or other employee of higher grade.

May supervise and/or lead professional and paraprofessional health care staff involved in therapy programs.

Elicits and records health history of client and/or patient; performs initial assessment using observation, interviews, inspection, auscultation, palpation and percussion; leads or co-leads psychotherapy groups or family therapy with other professionals; assesses, develops, implements and evaluates a written client and/or patient treatment plan for individuals and/or families; provides clinical supervision regarding assessment and intervention of crisis situations; counsels clients and/or patients and families about illness, medication and health habits; documents all care given; refers complex or emergent conditions to a physician, psychiatrist or psychologist according to predetermined guidelines; may perform some emergency medical treatments such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, treatment for shock or hemorrhage and treatment for emotional crises; may prescribe medication; may order laboratory tests as needed to discriminate between normal and abnormal findings on physical examination; may provide individual therapy; may perform mental status examinations; may lead multidisciplinary teams; may provide clinical supervision for ward milieu including writing ward and/or unit treatment programs; may assist in training students and health professionals; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of psychiatric nursing processes with emphasis on clinical interviewing and individual, group and family psychotherapy; considerable knowledge of current modalities of treatment available for psychiatric patients with emphasis on interdisciplinary team approaches; considerable knowledge of theories and treatments of mental illnesses; considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to observe changes in patient behavior; ability to make inferences and differential nursing diagnoses based on data available.

Four (4) years of experience as a professional nurse.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a psychiatric setting in supervised individual, group and/or family therapy.

1. A Bachelor's degree in nursing may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.
2. Master's degree in nursing may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

1. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a current license as a registered professional nurse in Connecticut.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
3. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
4. Within the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, incumbents in this class who write medications must have a current license as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse issued by the Department of Health.

Classified/Non-Examined

(22)-Nursing

(11)-HEALTH PROF (P-1)

(2)-Professional

FP 26

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Nurse Clinician in Salary Group FP 26 approved effective October 4, 2013. (Revised to modify Purpose of Job Class section) Item 22-024

04/13/2022