STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Head Nurse (35 Hour)

Recruitment #210301-4356HC-001

Introduction


Are you a Registered Nurse who is interested in a career that you are passionate about while receiving personal fulfillment and making a difference? 

If so, we invite you to discover this outstanding opportunity to join our dedicated team!

The State of Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is a state agency which provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their Families. We are seeking individuals who are looking to advance their career and make a difference!

We are currently recruiting a highly motivated Head Nurse for the Southbury Training School.

This is a full-time (70 hours/biweekly) position, every third week the employee will be required to work the weekend. The work schedule is as follows:

  • Week One: 7:00 a.m.- 2:30 p.m., Friday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday (35 hours)
  • Week Two: 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Friday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday (35 hours)
  • Week Three: 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday (35 hours)

However, employee must be flexible in order to meet the needs of the agency.

We offer competitive benefits which include health and dental insurance, a retirement plan, group life insurance, and other supplemental benefits. Paid time off is also offered, including 12 paid holidays per calendar year, in addition to vacation, sick and personal leave accruals.

Selection Plan

  • Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and must specify their qualifications on their application. Please note revisions cannot be made once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.
  • Applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies.
  • If you require an accommodation to participate fully and fairly under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Renee LaBarge, DDS EEO Director at (860) 418-6022 or Renee.LaBarge@ct.gov.
  • Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Kelly Paul at Kelly.Paul@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

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 patients/individuals or performing specialized professional nursing work in the areas of community or therapeutic nursing. At the State Universities or State Vocational Technical Schools this class is accountable for providing primary nursing care for students and facility staff.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

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 patient/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 patient/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; performs other 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 ICF regulations and 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 patients/individuals; participates in individual, group or family therapy; participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team in the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of patient/individual treatment or health care plans; may participate in home visits and crisis intervention; 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 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 patient/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; 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 exam; performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of and ability to independently apply nursing principles, techniques and standards; considerable knowledge of specialized patient/individual care applicable to nursing assignment; considerable knowledge of medications, their actions, interactions, uses and side effects; knowledge of general and mental health conditions and treatment interventions through utilization of assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcome identification, health planning, implementation and re-evaluation; knowledge of adult learning and family systems theory; knowledge of and sensitivity to cultural and socio-economic differences; considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other professionals, community resources and providers; ability to act as a role model to health care staff; supervisory ability.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NURSING POSITIONS: Considerable knowledge of behavioral health of individuals; skill working with individual patients/individuals, groups and families; ability to provide therapeutic treatment with a variety of patients/individuals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of experience as a Registered Professional Nurse.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been working with the type of patients and/or individuals serviced by the agency.

Note: The Special Experience is not required for the Department of Developmental Services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

A Bachelor’s degree in Nursing may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Will be required to travel.
  • Nursing Experience working with individuals with Developmental and Physical Disabilities
  • Experience participating and communicating in Interdisciplinary Team Meetings.
  • Experience with IV Therapy.
  • Considerable knowledge of goals, policies and organization of residential and community support services regarding Developmental Disability Services.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

  1. Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a license or temporary permit as a Registered Professional Nurse in Connecticut.
  2. 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.
  3. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS

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.

WORKING CONDITIONS

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

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.