State of Connecticut Executive Branch

In a state agency this class is accountable for administrative and clinical supervision of professional nurses, paraprofessionals and other staff involving direct nursing care of individuals or performing specialized professional nursing work in the areas of community or therapeutic nursing. At the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities or Connecticut Technical Education and Career System this class is accountable for providing primary nursing care for students and facility staff.

• STATE AGENCIES: This class is accountable for administrative and clinical supervision of professional nurses, paraprofessionals, and other staff involving direct nursing care of individuals or performing specialized professional nursing work in the areas of community and therapeutic nursing.
• DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: (1) Incumbents in this class on all shifts are responsible for the administrative and clinical management of a single area or unit including the supervision of a substantial number of professional nurses, paraprofessional and other assigned staff. Incumbents in this class may be used as an in-charge supervisor in the absence of a Supervising Nurse. OR (2) Incumbents in this class function as a primary care nurse at all treatment facilities.
• DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES: (1) Incumbents in this class on the day shift are responsible for the administrative and clinical management of a single unit. On the evening and night shifts, incumbents may be accountable for the administrative and clinical management of more than one unit. This includes supervision of assigned professional nurses, paraprofessionals or other staff. OR (2) Incumbents carry a caseload of selected cases in providing individual, group and family treatment.
• DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: (1) Incumbents in this class may be used as an in-charge supervisor for a unit or units on the night shift in a residential setting and is responsible for coordinating and supervising direct nursing care provided by other professional nurses or paraprofessionals. OR (2) Incumbents provide direct nursing care and serve on interdisciplinary teams in a campus setting.
• DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: Incumbents in this class on all three shifts are responsible for the administrative, performance management, and clinical management of a single wing and at times may be accountable for the administrative and clinical management of multiple wings. This includes supervision of assigned professional nurses, paraprofessional and other assigned staff. 
• CONNECTICUT STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: Incumbents in this class function as the sole nurse on the evening or night shift only. This class does not have another medical professional or supervisor in close proximity more than fifty percent of the time.
• CONNECTICUT TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND CAREER SYSTEM: Incumbents in this class function as an on-site assessment and triage nurse and provide health counseling services to students.

WORKING LEAD:

• Leads the planning of care and implementation of the nursing process;
• Plans unit workflow and determines priorities;
• Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work;
• Makes recommendations for personnel actions such as selection, discipline and performance;
• Conducts or assist in conducting performance evaluations;
• Leads professional and paraprofessional nursing staff in provision of individual care;
• Maintains and promotes standards of nursing;
• Ensures controlled drugs are properly stored, administered and ordered;
• Identifies staff development needs;
• Provides staff training and assistance;
• Instructs staff regarding policies and procedures;
• Participates in interdisciplinary meetings to promote and ensure adjustment and continuity of individual care programs;
• Responds to emergencies;
• May make recommendations on policies and standards;
• May prepare reports or correspondence;
• May serve as Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (QIDP);
• Performs related duties as required.

DIRECT CARE:

• Independently develops, implements and evaluates nursing and/or health care plans;
• Provides nursing consultation in the assigned specialty program;
• Conducts nursing assessments;
• Provides admission and discharge nursing assessments including plans for continuing care;
• Maintains records and makes reports; 
• Provides for nursing services to comply with intermediate care facility (ICF) regulations and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) standards;
• Maintains records of stored and secured medications;
• Ensures controlled drugs are properly stored, administered and ordered;
• Independently manages and provides direct care to individuals;
• Participates in individual, group or family therapy;
• Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team in the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of individual treatment or health care plans;
• Manages an assigned caseload of other appropriate clinical activities;
• Provides clinical direction and/or training to staff in individual, group and family service delivery programs;
• May participate in home visits and crisis intervention;
• May provide in-service training to nursing and paraprofessional staff with regard to signs and symptoms of illness, dysfunction, injury and prevention of same;
• May conduct individual-centered conferences with nursing personnel;
• May consult with and make recommendations to physicians concerning health needs;
• May make recommendations on policies or standards;
• May prepare reports or correspondence;
• May serve as Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (QIDP);
• Performs related duties as required.

SCHOOL NURSE:

• Independently provides counseling and health education services to students and staff;
• Serves as member of crisis intervention team;
• Provides assessment of medical problems;
• Determines need for physician or medical care; 
• Performs basic evaluative procedures and tests;
• Performs primary first aid;
• Ensures that controlled drugs are properly stored;
• Makes referrals and follows up on health needs;
• Provides counseling on health-related issues;
• Maintains accurate medical records; writes reports;
• May administer medication;
• May administer routine tests or exams;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license or temporary permit as a Registered Professional Nurse in Connecticut.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to be fluent in a foreign language or proficient in the use of the American Sign Language in certain designated positions.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

In addition to the checking of references and of facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate may be made before persons are certified for permanent appointment.

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift and restrain individuals; may have exposure to communicable/infectious diseases and risk of injury from assaultive/abusive individuals; may be exposed to disagreeable conditions.