Advanced Nurse Practitioner (40 Hour)

We invite you to discover this exceptional opportunity as a dedicated Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC) is seeking a top-tier clinician with expert boundary management, clinical assessment skills, and comfort working with individuals with severe personality disorders. This role is located at the Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown, CT.

This position is Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 pm., full time 40 hour, first shift. The Mental Health APRN hired will be an on-site prescriber assisting our inmate population. You will work with a hardworking, multidisciplinary team to deliver the highest level of care across a diverse population in our rare environment. You will have opportunities to care for a wide range of people and health concerns and gain invaluable experience while working in a highly dynamic work environment. The clinical and administrative demands of a facility requires regular monitoring of individuals in restrictive settings, Administrative Segregation, Special Circumstances, and Security Risk Groups.

This is a Hazardous Duty Position and offers a pension plan. It also offers excellent health benefits along with additional supplemental benefits.  

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

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.

Please ensure that your application is complete.  You will be unable to make revisions once it is submitted.  Questions can be sent to Emily.Kennedy@ct.gov. 

In a state agency health care delivery system this class is accountable for independently assessing, evaluating an individual’s health care status and developing a treatment plan to manage health problems and promote health maintenance and providing consultation services to optimize services provided and effect system changes.

Provides comprehensive advanced nursing treatments and/or health care services to  individuals including clinical assessments, treatments, diagnosing medical conditions, assessing emergencies, ordering, analyzing and interpreting results of diagnostic studies, prescribing medication and monitoring responses to medications and adjusting accordingly, making appropriate referrals to specialists; leading cardiac arrest codes and documenting medical and/or psychiatric care; performs specialized duties in providing medical and psychiatric care to a variety of individuals including hospitalized and ambulatory individuals with acute and chronic conditions; provides individual psychotherapy; educates individuals regarding diagnosis and treatment; assesses the effectiveness of health and/or psychiatric care services; consults with clinical staff regarding assessment methods and treatment plans; assists regional and/or central office staff in determining need for contractual health services; provides direction to staff on appropriate health record documentation; functions as liaison between agency and community health care providers; prepares reports on health services, problems and investigations; participates in quality assurance and other clinical committees as needed; assists families and other groups in understanding medical and/or psychiatric needs of clients serviced by agency; participates as a member of multi-disciplinary evaluation team; may provide training to nursing and paraprofessional staff; may complete home assessments for safety; may participate in investigations of abuse and/or neglect; may testify in court; may direct agency clinic services; performs related duties as required.

This position specifically: •  Prescribe psychiatric medications; both initial dosage and maintenance  •  Utilize crisis intervention techniques  •  Provide supportive care for detox  •  Use an Electronic Health Record (EHR) to update patient records

Considerable knowledge of advanced nursing principles and treatments; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; knowledge of psychiatric nursing principles and practices, treatment modalities and concepts of community programs; knowledge of substance abuse issues as they relate to individuals overall health and/or psychiatric status and course of treatment; knowledge of state, federal and local health care agencies and programs; knowledge of pharmacology as it relates to advanced nursing practice; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable clinical assessment and evaluation skills; ability to examine, diagnose, assess and treat individuals requiring health care services; ability to interpret diagnostic tests; ability to prescribe appropriate medications and other treatments; ability to utilize computer software; administrative ability.

A current license as an advanced practice registered nurse issued by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

• Experience in a Correctional or Forensic environment
• 3 year’s experience as a Mental Health APRN
• Experience prescribing maintenance and initial dosage for newly diagnosed patients
• Experience in a Crisis Intervention or Emergency Department
• Mental Health APRN Certification
• Experience with providing supportive care for detox

1. Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain Connecticut Controlled Substance Registration for Practitioners issued by the State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
2. Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain United States Drug Enforcement Administration Registration issued by the United States Federal Government.
3. Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain eligibility for participation in federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S. 1320a-7b(f).
4. Incumbents in this class are required to possess and maintain relevant registration(s) and/or certification(s).
5. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
6. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift and restrain patients/offenders and may have some exposure to infectious and/or communicable diseases and disagreeable conditions.

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.