Licensed Practical Nurse (35 Hour)

Are you a driven Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who is looking for an opportunity to join state service?

The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC) is seeking an LPN for Outpatient Specialty Services (OSS) at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield, CT.

We encourage you to consider exploring this unique opportunity with the DOC!

BENEFITS AND BALANCE AT THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

What we can offer you:

• Industry leading health benefits, including medical and dental coverage;
• Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings;
• Paid time off - including 13 paid holidays per calendar year;
• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities; and
• A work culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance to all employees!

The State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 by 'Forbes'. This national recognition comes from offering job growth, competitive benefits and flexible scheduling for our employees!

POSITION DETAILS

• Work Schedule: 7:00AM - 2:00PM Monday through Friday (first shift)
• Work Hours Per Week: Full Time, approximately 35 hours
• Location: Suffield, CT
• This is a Hazardous Duty position. More details are provided in the Selection Plan. 

YOUR ROLE

The DOC Health Services Unit is comprised of a variety of providers, healthcare professionals and services to help maintain the health of our inmate population.

This Outpatient Specialty Services (OSS) LPN position is unique in the fact that it is facility-based. The OSS LPN is responsible for coordinating all outpatient-related medical items, receives daily onsite supervision from facility Nursing Supervisors, in conjunction with the Central Office OSS Department Supervisor.

Responsibilities of OSS LPN may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develops a facility tracking system to identify upcoming appointments, including: pre appointment items (labs, records, prep required, required radiology forms, etc.,) and required documentation for scheduled appointment/procedures;
• Schedules the outpatient specialty services via the DOC Cloud Portal;
• Generates a Telemed report;
• Reviews all urgent requests daily;
• Reviews and responds to emails in a timely manner;
• Communicates directly with the OSS Department at Central Office of timely needs;
• Coordinates and communicates with Medical/Custody/Central office transportation specific needs;
• Coordinates with onsite prescriber at respective facility related to any/all pre-appointments needs that require prescriber attention prior/following appointment;
• Coordinates with facility-based discharge planning related to any potential offenders with release dates (EOS, TS, Parole), for continuity of care;
• Reviews and communicates with Infectious Disease Case manager any ID related requests;
• Coordinates with Correctional Head Supervising Nurse (CHSN)/Custody of any offenders transferring among DOC facilities with pending OSS items, as this information must be communicated to receiving OSS LPN; and,
• Proficiency in the all related OSS applications, including:
  • Related OSS applications;
  • DOC Cloud Portal (OSS Scheduler);
  • Access-based remote desktop;
  • Epic Link;
  • Microsoft Outlook;
  • Microsoft Teams;
  • EHR/Indexing Clients.

More details can be found in the class specification.

ABOUT US

The Department of Correction shall strive to be a global leader in progressive correctional practices and partnered re-entry initiatives to support responsive evidence-based practices aligned to law-abiding and accountable behaviors. Safety and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens and offenders.

This is non-examined recruitment, open to the public.

This is a hazardous duty position. Candidates selected for hire will be required to attend a 3-week HSU Academy training at the Maloney Center for Training & Staff Development located in Cheshire, CT. The HSU Academy consists of both classroom and behavior management (hands-on physical) training. The behavior management training will provide education on the use of physical force as it applies to self-defense, and the maintenance of order and security within the inmate population.

In addition to the HSU Academy training you will spend 3 days with the HSU education team receiving training regarding policy and procedures, electronic health record, and emergency response training.

TO APPLY

• Complete a Master Application and directly apply to this recruitment.
• Please include your LPN licensure details within your application.
• Please ensure that your application and professional experience is thorough and complete. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State of Connecticut.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOU APPLY

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

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 daily in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.

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.

Other Notes:

• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

CONTACT INFORMATION

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.

Should you have any questions about the position, please contact Samantha Rivera, Human Resources Specialist – Talent Solutions at Samantha.Rivera@CT.Gov

Stay connected with the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn

In a state facility this class is accountable for rendering bedside care or mental health services to individuals with physical disabilities and/or an intellectual disability in instances where the services of a registered nurse are not required.

• Assists doctors and nurses in the general care and treatment of individuals;
• Measures doses and administers medications including insulin injections; 
• Documents medications using appropriate forms;
• Performs narcotic counts;
• Checks and may administer intravenous medications;
• Reports changes in individuals to doctors;
• Ensures that restraints are applied correctly;
• Transcribes doctors medication orders;
• Dispenses certain medications in doctor’s absence;
• Applies topical medication;
• Takes and charts temperatures, pulses and respirations;
• Performs simple nursing treatments;
• Monitors general individual needs including personal hygiene;
• Reports on individual conditions and behavior;
• Keeps the unit safe and healthy;
• Administers enemas or suppositories;
• Performs Foley catheterization care;
• Orients individuals concerning medications and their use;
• May perform emergency first aid;
• May drive individuals to necessary appointments/outings;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Knowledge of
  • practical nursing specialties and bedside care;
  • various medications used in conjunction for the care of individuals who have physical disabilities and/or an intellectual disability;
  • infection control practices;
  • nutrition and diets;
  • medical and lab sciences;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral communication and written skills;
• Ability to
  • keep records;
  • lead staff.

License or temporary permit to practice nursing in Connecticut by the State Board of Examiners for Nursing.

• Experience with maintaining and scheduling appointments;
• Experience with case management.

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator's license, Public Passenger Endorsement or Commercial Driver's license for designated positions.

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

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.