STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Head Nurse (40 Hour)

Recruitment #210615-4356FP-001

Introduction



Do you want to make a difference while participating in a dynamic and reciprocal health care environment in the public sector? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to join our team!

We are currently seeking qualified individuals for the position of a full-time Head Nurse (PCN 028239). This position is located in the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU 2), at Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center, 1635 Central Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610 . The work schedule is 40 hours, third Shift, 12:15am - 8:15am, with every other weekend and rotating holidays.

Discover the Opportunity to:
  • Provide substantial input regarding patient care needs, response to treatment, recommend modifications in the overall plan of care;
  • Complete comprehensive Initial Nursing Assessment for patients with acute psychiatric and addictive problems;
  • Provide direct patient care that includes education, counseling, medication administration and documentation of the treatment and progress made by the patient.
PICU 2, the extended care unit, focuses on rehabilitation with an emphasis on intense skills building needed for community reintegration. PICU 2 is a 21 bed unit that is responsible for providing treatment for severely and acutely ill psychiatric patients who require a safe, supportive, highly structured hospital level of care. The treatment goals are developed in which the individual can be: stabilized, evaluated, rehabilitated, helped to accept the need for ongoing treatment, and assisted in regaining a level of functioning that will allow the person to be treated in a less restrictive environment or to return to community-based living.

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve.
 
Our employees participate in a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, and a retirement plan, as well as paid time off! We encourage a healthy work/life balance to all employees.

Selection Plan

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account.

Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meet the preferred requirements of the position. Applicants invited to interview may be required to submit additional documentation, which supports their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
Please Note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.

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.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however applications to this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in the job class.

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Chanhda.Ly@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.

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.