STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Head Nurse (35 Hour)

Recruitment #220120-4356HC-001

Introduction

Are you a self-starter? Do you have a passion for supporting others? Do you want to make a difference while participating in a dynamic and reciprocal human services environment in the public sector? If so, we want you to join us!  

The State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) – West Region seeks a highly skilled and talented Head Nurse to join our team in this full-time job opportunity.  

Position Details:

  • Location: Lower Fairfield County (LFC) Respite Center located at 146 Silvermine Avenue in Norwalk, CT.  
  • Hours: 35 hours per week
  • Work schedule:
  • Week One: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Thursday, 12:00 noon - 7:30 p.m. (regular days off Friday & Monday)
  • Week Two: Friday, Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Thursday, 12:00 noon - 7:30 p.m. (regular days off Saturday & Sunday)
  • However, work schedule flexibility is required in order to meet the demands of the job.    

You will discover the opportunity to:  

  • Engage in a rewarding career;
  • Provide support to a division that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve;
  • Assist our individuals so they can achieve success;
  • Make a difference in the public sector;
  • Work together in a collaborative team environment.  

What’s in it for You – Leading Comprehensive Benefit Offerings:

  • Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage; 
  • Comprehensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings; 
  • Paid time off; 
  • Professional growth and development opportunities; 
  • Ability to serve the citizens of Connecticut;
  • A healthy work life balance to all employees.  

We hope you take this opportunity to make an impact by serving your state!

Selection Plan

All state employees shall follow Executive Order 13G (as amended by Executive Order 14C).

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and must specify their qualifications on their application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. 

Please note you will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. 

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

Note:  At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position.  These documents may include:  a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.  Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position. 

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.

Incumbent in this position must have a valid driver’s license and will be required to travel.   

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 questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Julie Barker, at Julie.Barker@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

Preference will be given to candidates who possess:  

  • Experience with basic nursing skills to include but not limited to: providing medication and nutrition via G-tube or J-tube, diabetic care, respiratory treatments, colostomy, cecostomy, and urostomy care, wound care, and catheterization.    
  • Experience working in a nursing capacity with individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities.    
  • Experience interpreting and applying goals and policies regarding residential and community support services for individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities.    
  • Experience with the organization of residential and community support services for individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities.   
  • Experience following current infection control practices.    
  • Experience using Microsoft applications, including Outlook, Teams and Word.

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.